NC worker's death: Son moves petition seeking CBI probe

Fearing that the alleged custodial death of NC worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf was being "hushed up", son of the deceased leader has moved a petition in a court in Srinagar seeking Central Bureau of Investigation probe.

Syed Talib, son of the deceased National Conference worker, moved the petition before the court of special judge anti-corruption, demanding registration of a murder case and CBI inquiry into the matter.

"The applicant who is the son of the deceased wants a direction from the court for registration of a case in due course of law by CBI or any other state agency," Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, the lawyer representing Yousuf's family, told PTI.

The petition said the family of the deceased fears the case has been "hushed up".

The case, filed on Saturday, has been listed for hearing on October 28. The counsel said the petition had taken note of the point that no investigation into the death was conducted and no FIR was registered by the police despite a written application by a family member of Yousuf.

Yousuf, an NC worker from south Kashmir's Anantnag district, died on September 30, allegedly in police custody after two fellow party workers had accused him of taking Rs 1.18 crore from them for getting them berths in the Legislative Council.

According to the government version, the accused was summoned to the camp office of the chief minister where he was confronted with the allegation about taking money.

Yousuf had admitted to taking money after which he was handed over to IGP Crime Branch for further investigations.

However, he complained of nausea while on way to the Crime Branch office. He was taken to a hospital where he died of cardiac arrest, the government version said.