CBI chose not to file reply in Neha Shoree case: Punjab and Haryana High Court

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 27

Nearly three years after Zonal Drugs Licensing Authority Neha Shoree was shot in her office at Kharar allegedly for battle against the drug mafia, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has observed that the CBI has “chosen not to file reply as on date”.

Her war-veteran father and another petitioner had moved the High Court two years ago alleging inaction in the matter. In their petition against the state of Punjab and other respondents, Capt Kailash Kumar Shoree and the other petitioner had contended that the FIR in the matter was registered on March 29, 2019, but “no further action has been taken”.

Their counsel had submitted that the murder was the handiwork of drug mafia as she had been making efforts to stop the drug menace.

Appearing before Justice Jaishree Thakur, counsel Kanika Ahuja moved an application for advancing the date of hearing in the case, which was listed for April 26, 2022. Allowing the application, Justice Thakur took up the matter for hearing and observed: “This is a case where daughter of the petitioner, who was working as Zonal Drugs Licensing Authority in Food and Drug Administration Department of the Government of Punjab, was shot dead in the office. Reply has been filed on behalf of the state of Punjab as well as respondent-NIA. However, for the reasons best known, the CBI has chosen not to file reply as on date”.

Justice Thakur also directed the serving of the order’s copy on senior advocate and standing counsel for CBI Sumeet Goel. The case will now come up for hearing on January 18.

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