SC issues notices to Uttarakhand in engineer murder case

New Delhi, Jan 15 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Uttarakhand government on a petition seeking CBI inquiry into the murder of a Superintending Engineer of Upper Ganga Link Canal Project.

A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhan and Aftab Alam issued notices on the petition filed by Vikas Kumar Roorkewal, son of the victim Radhe Sham, a Scheduled Caste who was killed in Roorkee on June 18, 2006 in broad daylight.

Counsel for the petitioner also pleaded before the court that the trial of the case must be transferred from Haridwar Court to Delhi as free and fair trial was not possible in Haridwar.

The apex court also stayed till further orders the proceedings pending in the trial court at Haridwar.

Four accused Akash Tyagi, Amit Verma, Shagun and Sahil Alam have been arrested in the case. Harpal Singh, another engineer of the same department, is also an accused.

According to the petitioner, out of 34 witnesses, most have turned hostile because of threat and pressure and the local police was colluding with the accused people to shield them. Under these circumstances the chances of free and fair trial are very bleak.

According to the petitioner, investigation has been conducted at the instance of the accused person.

The project is aimed to solve the irrigation and water problems of western Uttar Pradesh.

UNI AKS/SC BDP RP BD1929