Delhi Police hand over CFSL report to Manchanda's family

New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) Following the Delhi High Court directive, the Delhi police today handed over a copy of CFSL (Central Forensic and Science Laboratory) report to the family of its suspended inspector Devendra Manchanda, who was found dead at Barakhamba road on October 13 last year.

Prashant, the son of the deceased, had moved the High Court on February 19 for the CFSL report, which ruled out 'poisoning' as the cause of the inspector's death.

''The report lends credence to my allegation that he may have been murdered. There were no external injuries on his body,'' Prashant said.

Demanding a probe, he said only the CBI could throw light on the exact circumstances leading to his father's death.

According to Prashant, the post-mortem report had mentioned that the cause of death should be kept pending for an expert opinion from doctors.

The 55-year-old Delhi Police inspector had been under suspension for the past two years. While the police ruled out any foul play, a three-page suicide note was recovered from his residence.

Inspector Manchanda was suspended on October 12, 2004, on charges of registering a false case against a businessman accusing him of having grabbed a prime property on Shamnath Marg. At that time, he was posted with the District Investigation Unit of North Delhi.

As per the police, the businessman lodged a complaint alleging that Inspector Manchanda had registered the case against him with an intention to grab his property.

However, Inspector Manchanda's family alleged that he was being harassed for having booked a powerful businessman. ''He was confident that he would get justice soon. He took the issue to the Central Administrative Tribunal and then moved the High Court. But the court hearings kept getting adjourned due to which he went into a depression,'' said his daughter Pooja.

The police have clarified that Inspector Manchanda's appeal against the departmental inquiry had been quashed by CAT. He had challenged the order in the High Court but his plea was turned down in February.

UNI