Journalist Rajdeo Ranjan Murder Case: 'Dead' Witness Appears Before Court, CBI Show Caused

Journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, who worked with Hindi daily 'Hindustan', was shot dead in 2016 by a group of five miscreants on his way home in Siwan.

Journalists hold a protest against the murder of a journalist at Siwan district of Bihar

Source : Getty Images

In a bizarre incident, a witness declared dead by the CBI in the journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case appeared before the Muzaffarpur court on Friday. The court issued a show cause notice to the CBI, which is investigating the case, for submitting a false death report.

Additional sessions judge Punit Kumar Garg also directed the CBI to submit its reply before June 20.

Journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, who worked with Hindi daily 'Hindustan', was shot dead in 2016 by a group of five miscreants on his way home in Siwan, sparking nationwide outrage and protests.

The witness, Badami Devi, was declared dead by the CBI on May 24 and the investigating agency also submitted her death verification report before the court. The CBI submitted the report after it had sought summons for the examination of Devi.

On Friday, much to the bewilderment of those present in the courtroom, Badami Devi appeared before the court with her documents and affidavit.

"I have been staying at my Kasera Toli residence in Siwan. I was made a witness in the case but no CBI official met me. However, the CBI declared me dead, which I came to know through newspapers. It is a conspiracy," she said in her affidavit, PTI reported.

Representing the petitioners, advocate Sharad Sinha told the court that the CBI's act appeared to be suspicious. 

"Now there is no hesitation to say that CBI has done this kind of work in connivance with another witness. It is submitted that CBI is playing a big game to implicate falsely the accused persons, especially Vijay Kumar and Azharuddin Beig," Sinha told the court.

Outside the court, he told reporters that CBI's act was "strange and shocking".

The Bihar government had on May 17, 2016, recommended Rajdeo Ranjan's murder case to CBI. CBI registered the case on September 15, 2016.

The name of late RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin had cropped up in connection with the case after Ranjan's wife accused him of having a role in the killing. CBI had also interrogated Shahabuddin, who claimed that he was in jail when the incident took place.