Bihar Government Requests CBI Investigation into Medical Student's Death in Patna
The Bihar state government has formally requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the suspicious death of a medical student in Patna, a move that has sparked controversy due to the agency's troubled track record in the state. The 17-year-old student was found unconscious in her hostel room in Patna's Chitragupt Nagar area on January 6 and died five days later while undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Family Opposition and Government Justification
Despite strong opposition from the deceased student's family, who had sought a judicial inquiry instead, the state government proceeded with its recommendation for a CBI investigation. Government officials stated that the case should be investigated in a fair and transparent manner, justifying their decision to involve the central agency.
The victim's family has alleged that she was sexually assaulted and accused authorities of attempting to cover up the incident. They claim police were trying to hush up the matter by denying sexual assault and portraying it as a suicide case. Police initially claimed the student died by suicide after consuming sleeping pills and denied any sexual assault occurred.
However, the post-mortem report recorded "injuries and signs of violence on the body" and explicitly stated that "sexual violence cannot be ruled out," contradicting the police's initial assessment and supporting the family's allegations.
CBI's Troubled History in Bihar Investigations
The decision to involve the CBI has drawn significant attention to the agency's performance in Bihar, where several high-profile cases investigated by the CBI have either remained inconclusive or dragged on for years without resolution.
Major Cases Highlighting CBI's Challenges in Bihar
- The Muzaffarpur Shelter Home Case: This 2018 case involved the sexual assault of dozens of minor girls in government-run shelter homes. The CBI investigated after the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) exposed the atrocities. While main accused Brajesh Thakur and several others were convicted, opposition parties and social activists alleged the CBI probe had shielded influential figures connected to the case.
- The Srijan Scam: Uncovered in 2017, this major corruption case involved the fraudulent diversion of government funds worth over Rs 1,000 crore to Bhagalpur-based NGO Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti (SMVSS). Funds meant for various welfare schemes between 2004 and 2014 were systematically siphoned off. Following political pressure, the case was handed to the CBI, but the probe continues at a slow pace, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) now involved to attach assets of accused in money laundering aspects.
- The Navruna Kidnapping Case: In 2012, 12-year-old Navruna was kidnapped from her Muzaffarpur home. The CBI took over the investigation on Supreme Court directions, but even after 13 years, the agency failed to reach a conclusion. Despite suspicion of land mafia involvement, the CBI attempted to close the case citing lack of evidence, a move strongly opposed by the victim's family.
- The Khushi Kidnapping Case: In 2021, 5-year-old Khushi was kidnapped from a Saraswati Puja pandal in Muzaffarpur. The CBI took over after local police failed to find leads. Despite extensive investigations including polygraph tests on family members, suspect questioning, and forensic analysis, the child remains untraced more than five years later.
Concerns Over Current Investigation
Against this backdrop of prolonged and inconclusive investigations, the decision to recommend a CBI probe into the medical student's death has raised serious concerns among observers and the victim's family. Many fear this investigation could follow the same pattern of delays and questionable outcomes that have characterized previous CBI probes in Bihar.
The state government's insistence on a CBI investigation despite family opposition and the agency's problematic history in the state has created apprehension about whether justice will be served in this sensitive case involving a young medical aspirant.
