CBI registers FIR in Manisha murder case

The CBI has registered an FIR in the Manisha murder case. Earlier, the police had registered an FIR in the matter, dated August 12, under Section 127 (6) of BNS (wrongful confinement) at Loharu Police Station, Bhiwani, following a complaint of Manisha’s father, Sanjay Kumar.

He said in his complaint that on August 11, his daughter Manisha, aged 18 years, went to teach children at a play school in Singhani village, and did not return. She had left the house at 8 am. He said the family had looked for her everywhere and even asked relatives, but they were unable to trace her.

On August 13, her body was found in a field near the canal of the village bearing grievous injuries on the neck. Consequently, Section 103(1) of BNS (murder) was added in the case.

Vide notification, dated September 4, issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel & Training), the investigation of the case was transferred to the CBI. On September 5, a Delhi unit of the CBI registered a regular case in the matter.

The investigation of the case has been entrusted to Inspector Vivek Kumar of CBI, New Delhi.

On September 25, the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Home, Dr Sumita Misra, accorded consent for the transfer of the case. Before that, CM Nayab Singh Saini had, on August 20, announced a CBI investigation into the case, following a demand from her family.

Three post-mortems of the body were conducted, as demanded by the family. The first post-mortem was performed in Bhiwani, followed by another at the PGI, Rohtak; and the third at AIIMS, Delhi. She was cremated on August 21.

The issue was also raised in the Vidhan Sabha. A former CM, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, had said after the Manisha murder case, all were worried about the safety of their sisters and daughters, because in this crime, the brutality of the culprits, and also the failure of the law and order system was clearly visible. “Despite receiving the complaint, the police were negligent and did not try to find Manisha,” he had added.