New Delhi/Patna: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant an urgent hearing in a petition seeking an independent investigation into the encounter death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bihar’s Bhojpur district, directing the petitioner to approach the Registrar for listing of the matter.
The case was mentioned before a bench led by Justice B.V. Nagarathna, where the petitioner sought immediate judicial intervention in the controversial encounter that has sparked political debate and public protests across Bihar.
However, the court did not agree to an expedited hearing and advised the petitioner to follow the standard procedure for listing the case.
PIL Seeks Independent Investigation
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed by Supreme Court advocate Vishal Tiwari, who has sought a fair, transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Bharat Tiwari’s death.
During the mention before the court, Tiwari argued that encounter cases often follow a familiar narrative in which police claim that an accused attempted to flee, snatched a weapon or attacked officers, leaving them with no option but to open fire in self-defence.
According to the petitioner, the circumstances of the Bhojpur encounter warrant closer scrutiny and judicial oversight.
“The police often cite a standard reason for encounters: the accused snatched a police weapon, attempted to flee, and tried to attack the police, forcing the officers to open fire in self-defense. This is a staged encounter. The Court should intervene and order an investigation,” the petitioner submitted before the bench.
Questions Raised Over Conflicting Accounts
The petition contends that multiple and conflicting versions of events have emerged since the encounter, creating uncertainty and raising questions about what transpired during the police operation.
It argues that public confidence can only be restored through an investigation conducted by an agency independent of the Bihar Police.
According to the plea, several unresolved issues surrounding the incident require impartial examination and judicial monitoring.
Demand For CBI Probe And Oversight Panel
The petition seeks transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
It also requests the constitution of an independent expert committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to supervise the inquiry and ensure transparency throughout the investigation process.
The petitioner has argued that an independent probe under judicial supervision is necessary to establish the facts and address concerns raised by the deceased’s family, political leaders and civil society groups.
Judicial Inquiry Already Ordered In Bihar
The Supreme Court proceedings come amid an ongoing judicial inquiry ordered by the Bihar government into the encounter.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary recently announced that the investigation would be conducted by a retired High Court judge in an effort to ensure an impartial examination of the incident.
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Bihar Govt Orders Judicial Probe Into Bharat Tiwari Encounter Amid Mounting Political Pressure
The encounter, which took place in Bilauti village under Shahpur police station limits in Bhojpur district on June 17, has triggered widespread protests, demands for accountability and calls for a thorough investigation.
With the matter now before both the state-appointed judicial inquiry and the Supreme Court’s registry process, scrutiny of the encounter is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
