Report the investigation into the death of a judge in Dhanbad in a week: Supreme

The judge, who was out jogging early in the morning, was blown up by a rickshaw puller

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the Chief Secretary and the DGP to report within a week to the inquiry into the death of Judge Uttam Anand, who was on an early morning jog at Dhanbad in Jharkhand, after he was hit by a rickshaw.

Chief Justice of India N.V. A bench comprising Justice Raman and Justice Suryakant took cognizance of the incident and registered a case. The bench clarified that it did not intend to intervene in the case before the High Court.

Vikas Singh, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, had demanded an independent inquiry by the CBI into the death of Additional District Judge Uttam Anand. Vikas Singh said he suspected the judge had been killed in this manner.

He recently rejected the bail application of a notorious gangster. Singh demanded an inquiry into the matter. "This is an attack on the independence of the judiciary," Singh said. The apex court noted Bar's concerns and said the High Court was investigating the matter and would intervene if necessary.

Judge Uttam Anand, 50, was on his way for a morning walk at 5.30 am on Wednesday when he was hit by a rickshaw. Pedestrians took the judge to Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital where the judge died of severe head injuries.

Police registered a case in this regard on the basis of CCTV camera footage and arrested rickshaw drivers Lakhan Verma and Rahul Verma. The video went viral on social media. Police said the duo stole the rickshaw and flew the judge through it. Bokaro DIG Mayur Patel said the night rickshaw was stolen from Zaria on Tuesday.

Both drivers are currently being cross-examined. He will be arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Patel is a member of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed under the leadership of ADG Sanjay Anand. The High Court has constituted this SIT to investigate the case.

Judge Anand had in July issued 36 orders out of a total of 34 applications for bail and anticipatory bail. He was granted bail in six cases. Interestingly, Judge Anand also served as a judge of the Motor Vehicle Accidents Tribunal.

He had ordered compensation of Rs nine lakh to a deceased in a case of reckless reckless driving in an autorickshaw case. In another case, he paid Rs 68 lakh to the wife of a man who died in an accident.