SC orders FIR against ex-Delhi Police chief Neeraj Kumar in 25-yr-old case

Noting that justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered registration of an FIR against former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar and ex-CBI Inspector Vinod Kumar Pandey in connection with 25-year-old allegations of fabrication of documents and criminal intimidation.

“It would be a dichotomy of justice if such an offence is allowed to go uninvestigated particularly when there is involvement of the officers on deputation to CBI,” a Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Punjab Varale said.

Writing the judgment for the Bench, Justice Mithal said, “It is cardinal in law that justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done. It is high time that sometimes those who investigate must also be investigated to keep alive the faith of the public at large in the system.”

Ordering the investigation to be conducted by a Delhi Police officer not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, the Bench directed Kumar and Pandey to cooperate with the investigating officer (IO). “The IO shall conclude the same as expeditiously as possible, preferably within three months,” it said.

The alleged fabrication of documents and criminal intimidation relates to an incident in 2000 when Kumar was posted as a joint director in the CBI.