SC issues notice to Centre, J-K Govt. on plea for CBI probe into NC worker death case

New Delhi, Oct 31 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir Government seeking their replies on a plea for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the mysterious death of National Conference (NC) leader Mohammad Yusuf Shah Haji.

An apex court bench of Justices Altamas Kabir and S S Nijjar, which issued the notice, sought replies within two weeks.

The bench was initially unwilling to entertain the plea, as the doctors had certified that heart attack was the cause of death.

Counsel Bhim Singh, who appeared for the petitioner, told the bench that the incident ought to be investigated by the CBI as Yusuf had died after visiting the chief minister's residence.

"Doctors have certified that he had died of heart attack. So, where is the question of an FIR?" the apex court bench asked.

Singh, however, insisted that the matter should be probed by an independent agency as the death had occurred under mysterious circumstances.

He cited the apex court's earlier ruling in the D K Basu case wherein guidelines have been laid down on probing such mysterious deaths in alleged police custody.

The bench later relented and directed issuance of notices.

The petition was filed for a CBI probe into the death of Haji allegedly in police custody under mysterious circumstances in Srinagar.

The petition filed by Balwant Singh Mankotia, a sitting MLA of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, had sought a direction to the state government to hand over the probe into Haji's death to the CBI.

According to the petition, Haji was arrested allegedly on the orders of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on September 29 and he died next morning.

Omar Abdullah is facing a political storm and calls to resign over the death of Yousuf, who died 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. (ANI)