Kolkata: As the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted to probe the murder of IIT Kharagpur student Faizan Ahmed, has been directed by the Calcutta High Court to submit its final report by December 19, counsel for Faizan’s family has written to the head of the SIT, urging him to conduct Narco Analysis and Truth Serum tests on the accused, as permitted by the High Court in June.
In a letter addressed to IPS officer Jayaraman, who is heading the SIT, advocate Aniruddha Mitra wrote:
“You are aware that by an order dated 14.06.2023 passed by the Hon’ble Justice Rajasekhar Mantha on a writ petition filed by my clients, the newly constituted team investigating the killing of Faizan Ahmed had been directed to conduct Narco Analysis and Truth Serum tests on any witness or persons deemed necessary to throw light on the killing.”
The letter further stated:
“Since it was submitted in the report filed by the Team before the Hon’ble Court on 22.11.2023 that interrogation of the students had been deferred till 25.11.2023 on the alleged ground of their examinations, at the request of the IIT authorities, my clients trust that such interrogation shall now be conducted in a meaningful manner, as directed by the said order dated 14.06.2023, and not in a perfunctory manner, so that the accused are identified, booked for murder, and taken into custody.”
Mitra also reminded the SIT that failure to comply with the High Court’s directions could be brought to the court’s notice.
“Non-compliance with the aforesaid direction contained in the order dated 14.06.2023 will be brought to the notice of the Hon’ble Court on the next date of hearing.”
A copy of the Calcutta High Court’s order dated June 14, 2023, was enclosed with the letter.
Court Orders Underline Demand for Narco, Truth Serum Tests
The June 14 order of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha had specifically empowered the SIT to conduct Narco Analysis and Truth Serum tests on any witness or accused, if deemed necessary for the investigation. The family’s counsel has now urged the SIT to invoke those powers before filing its final report.
The High Court has directed the SIT to submit its final investigation report by December 19. During the last hearing on November 28, Justice Jay Sengupta, before whom the matter is currently pending, had criticised the SIT for the slow pace of its investigation.
Faizan Ahmed Murder Case: From ‘Suicide’ Claim to Murder Investigation
On October 14, 2022, the partially decomposed body of Faizan Ahmed, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at IIT Kharagpur, was found in his hostel room.
When Faizan’s parents, residents of Tinsukia in Assam, reached Kharagpur, the IIT authorities informed them that the 23-year-old student had died by suicide. The police initially echoed the same claim. However, Faizan’s family consistently maintained that he had been murdered.
The first post-mortem examination failed to ascertain the cause of death. Dissatisfied with the investigation, Faizan’s parents approached the Calcutta High Court.
When the police could not satisfactorily explain the cause of death before the court, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha appointed noted forensic expert Dr Ajoy Gupta to independently examine the case. After reviewing the video recording of the first post-mortem, Dr Gupta observed signs of haemorrhage and recommended a second autopsy at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.
The High Court granted permission, and Faizan’s body was brought from Assam to Kolkata for a second post-mortem. The fresh autopsy concluded that Faizan had been murdered.
Following the findings, Justice Mantha constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the case. In his June 14 order, he also authorised the SIT to conduct Narco Analysis and Truth Serum tests, if required.
Both IIT Kharagpur and the West Bengal government challenged the SIT investigation before a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court. However, the Bench, which also included the Chief Justice, upheld Justice Mantha’s order, allowing the SIT investigation to continue.
