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CBI claims good progress in the case of Shibu Soren's missing secretary

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday submitted before the Delhi high court the status report on the investigation into the whereabouts of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shibu Soren's 'missing' secretary.

The report, given in by CBI counsel A K Dutt to a division bench comprising Justices Devinder Gupta and N G Nandi, said the agency has made 'considerable' progress in the matter. Dutt sought time to inform the court about the new developments.

The matter has been adjourned to August 24 for further directions.

The court was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Priyambada Devi, mother of the secretary, Shashi Nath Jha. She wanted a direction to the CBI to produce her son in the court.

She alleged that the CBI was not trying its best to track down her son, who has been missing for a few years now.

On March 3, the agency had stated that the probe was complete and it was closing the case. Its counsel submitted that the CBI would inform the court on the next date of hearing when it would place the probe report before the chief metropolitan magistrate.

The probe, headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police Satish Chandra, was initiated four years ago.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that it was his right to know whether his client's son was alive or not -- if the status report contained the information, it should be revealed.

However, Chandra said it would be better if the petitioner waited a little longer. ''The probe is on the way to completion and as such nothing should be disclosed,'' he urged the court.

Though the bench accepted the CBI's request, it directed the agency to file a fresh report by the next date of hearing, February 4.

UNI

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