Patna Court Postpones Bail Hearing in NEET Student Death Case to March 11
The District and Additional Sessions Judge-VI-cum-Pocso court Judge in Patna once again deferred the bail hearing for Manish Ranjan, the owner of the building that housed a girls' hostel, in the ongoing case related to the alleged rape and mysterious death of a NEET student. The matter has now been scheduled for March 11, marking the third postponement in the proceedings.
Intense Courtroom Arguments Over Investigation Lapses
During a hearing that stretched for approximately two hours on Monday, intense arguments erupted between the counsel representing the victim's family and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) representative. The family's advocate, S K Pandey, raised serious concerns about shortcomings and possible lapses in how the probe was conducted by the central agency.
Pandey sharply criticised the CBI's handling of the case, alleging that charges under the Pocso Act were intentionally dropped in the FIR. He also accused officers of evidence manipulation, further complicating the legal proceedings.
CBI Opposes Bail Application, Cites No Need for Custody
Opposing these claims, the CBI counsel argued that such criticisms were out of place in a bail proceeding. The agency emphasised that it did not require Ranjan's further involvement or custody at this stage, as noted in their formal submission. The investigating officer of the special investigation team (SIT), Anu Kumari, who is also the SDPO of Secretariat, stated in court that custody was unnecessary since the case had been handed over to the CBI.
Similarly, the CBI's investigation officer, Pawan Kumar Shrivastava, mentioned that the agency did not need the hostel building owner for ongoing inquiries, reinforcing the argument against his continued detention.
Court Show-Causes Jailer for Failure to Produce Accused
During the hearing, the court took a stern stance by show-causing the jailer of Beur central jail for failing to produce Manish Ranjan in court even once over an extended period. This administrative lapse added to the delays in the case, which have been compounded by previous deferrals due to incomplete submissions and responses from probe teams, including the CBI and SIT.
Background of the Case and Investigation Timeline
Manish Ranjan has been in judicial custody following his arrest in mid-January. The case originated under local police after the NEET student's death in January, but it was transferred to the CBI amid growing public demands and doubts over the initial inquiry. Forensic and postmortem evidence pointed towards sexual assault on the minor, highlighting the gravity of the allegations.
The repeated delays in the bail proceedings reflect the complexities involved, with the court seeking more detailed updates on the investigation's status. As the case moves forward, stakeholders await the March 11 hearing for further developments in this high-profile matter.
