In a significant development, the Rajasthan High Court has ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a contentious case involving the illegal supply of opium. This decision comes after officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Rajasthan police leveled serious accusations against each other, raising concerns about the integrity of the investigation.
The case in question revolves around the alleged extortion attempts by NCB officials and counter-allegations from the State police that the NCB was colluding with the drug mafia. The High Court, noting the escalating conflict between the two investigative agencies, decided that a neutral third party—namely, the CBI—should take over the investigation to ensure an impartial and thorough inquiry.
The State police claimed that NCB officials were attempting to extort ₹30 lakhs from two men, who were reportedly in the business of marble and granite, by threatening to implicate them in a drug case. According to the police, the NCB officers were using the fear of being framed in a narcotics case as leverage to extract money.
On the other hand, the NCB officials alleged that the State police were in cahoots with the drug mafia. They asserted that they had acted on a tip-off regarding the supply of 8-10 kg of opium and had obtained the necessary administrative orders to proceed. The NCB accused the police of trying to protect the real culprits involved in the drug trade.
Justice Arun Monga, while passing the order, highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating that "factual narrative in the case herein is rather glaring. It appears that two Investigative Agencies are at loggerheads, embroiled in a direct conflict, each striving to attribute criminal culpability concerning the contraband in question i.e. 5 kg of opium."
The Court emphasized the need for an independent investigation, expressing concerns that the ongoing conflict between the NCB and the State police could compromise the fairness and impartiality of the inquiry. In light of these concerns, Justice Monga directed the CBI, Jodhpur, to take charge of the investigation.
The Court ordered that both the complaints—one filed by the NCB and the other by the State police—be initially treated as a single preliminary inquiry by the CBI. The CBI was instructed to conduct a comprehensive investigation and prepare a preliminary report on the culpability of the parties involved. If the preliminary findings warrant further action, the CBI was directed to register a formal case and proceed with filing a charge sheet.
Additionally, the Court specified that the Superintendent of Police (SP) of CBI, Jodhpur, should personally oversee the investigation and not delegate it to any junior officer. This move underscores the Court's commitment to ensuring that the investigation is conducted with the highest level of integrity and professionalism.
The case first came to light when the State police lodged a criminal case against three NCB officials, accusing them of extortion and wrongful confinement under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The NCB officials, in turn, filed a cross-case against a police officer, alleging involvement with the drug mafia.
Initially, a coordinate Bench of the High Court had ordered the Director General of Police (DGP) of Rajasthan to form a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the matter. However, when no significant progress was made, the Court decided to hand over the case to the CBI.
The Rajasthan High Court's decision to transfer the investigation to the CBI is a crucial step towards ensuring a fair and unbiased inquiry into the allegations of extortion and collusion between law enforcement agencies and the drug mafia. As the CBI takes over the investigation, all eyes will be on the agency to see how it navigates this complex and sensitive case.
As Justice Monga aptly put it, "To ensure a neutral, independent, and fair investigation, it is considered rather expedient to transfer the entire matter to a third neutral agency i.e. the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Jodhpur." The outcome of this investigation will likely have significant implications for the credibility of both the NCB and the State police in their fight against drug-related crimes.
TAGS: Rajasthan High Court CBI Probe Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Rajasthan Police Opium case Extortion allegations Drug mafia Neutral investigation
