High Court orders CBI probe into Netai killings

Kolkata, Feb 18 (PTI) Voicing dissatisfaction with theCID probe into the Netai firing, the Calcutta High Court todaydirected the West Bengal government to hand over to CBI, theinvestigation in to the January 7 incident, in which ninepersons died.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justices J N Pateland Ashim Kumar Roy, directed the CID to hand over alldocuments relating to the investigation as well as the twoaccused, who were in its custody, to the central agency.

It also directed the CID to assist the CBI as and whenrequired.

The bench, which will monitor the investigation, directedthe CBI to furnish a progress report after 15 days when thematter will come up for hearing again.

Earlier, the bench while allowing the CID to continue theprobe had stated that if it found the CID wanting in course ofinvestigation, it would keep its option open in handing overthe case to the CBI.

The Calcutta High Court Bar Association, which had moveda PIL praying for a CBI investigation into the case, claimedthat as the allegations were against the ruling CPI-M, animpartial inquiry could not be made by a state investigationagency.