Patna Court Postpones Bail Hearing in NEET Student Case Amid Heated Arguments
The District and Additional Sessions Judge-VI-cum-Pocso court in Patna once again deferred the bail hearing for Manish Ranjan, owner of the building that housed the girls' hostel, in the ongoing case related to the alleged rape and mysterious death of a NEET student. The matter has now been scheduled for March 11, marking another delay in the proceedings.
Intense Courtroom Debate Over Investigation Lapses
During a hearing that stretched for approximately two hours, intense arguments erupted between the counsel for the victim's family and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) representative. The family's advocate, S K Pandey, raised serious concerns about shortcomings and possible lapses in how the probe was conducted. He sharply criticised the CBI's handling of the case, alleging that charges under the Pocso Act were intentionally dropped in the FIR and pointing to evidence manipulation by officers.
CBI Opposes Bail Claims, Cites No Need for Custody
In response, the CBI counsel argued that such criticisms were inappropriate for a bail proceeding. The agency emphasised that it did not require Ranjan's further involvement or custody at this stage, as noted in their formal submission. Supporting this stance, Anu Kumari, the investigating officer of the special investigation team (SIT) and SDPO of Secretariat, stated in court that custody was unnecessary since the case had been handed over to the CBI. Similarly, the CBI's investigation officer, Pawan Kumar Shrivastava, mentioned that the hostel building owner was not needed for the ongoing investigation.
Court Issues Show-Cause Notice to Jailer
The court also took action by show-causing the jailer of Beur central jail for failing to produce Ranjan in court over an extended period. This latest hearing follows two previous deferrals of the bail proceedings, which were delayed due to incomplete submissions and responses from probe teams, including the CBI and SIT, along with the need for more detailed updates on the investigation's status.
Background of the Case and Custody Details
Ranjan has been in judicial custody since his arrest in mid-January. The case, which began under local police after the student's death in January, was transferred to the CBI amid growing public demands and doubts over the initial inquiry. Forensic and postmortem evidence indicated sexual assault on the minor, adding gravity to the allegations. The repeated postponements highlight the complexities and contentious nature of this high-profile investigation.
