The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the CBI regarding a plea by arrested UP Police Inspector Jagat Narayan Singh, one of six officers accused in the 2021 murder of businessman Manish Gupta in Gorakhpur.
Singh is seeking 45 days of interim bail to attend and defend himself in departmental proceedings before the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Gorakhpur.
Justice Amit Mahajan issued the notice and asked the CBI for a response, with the next hearing scheduled for October 1. Advocate Kanhaiya Singhal, representing Singh, argued that his client, a government employee, is facing disciplinary action due to this case and has received multiple notices to attend hearings on various dates. These notices were issued on 18.06.2022, 17.11.2022, 04.02.2023, 28.04.2023, 25.01.2023, and 26.02.2024.
Singhal further explained that if Singh cannot participate in these proceedings, he may be dismissed without a fair hearing, which would violate the principles of natural justice. An earlier plea for interim bail was denied by the Rouse Avenue Court on August 27, preventing Singh from attending the ongoing disciplinary hearings.
The case dates back to September 2021, when Manish Gupta was allegedly beaten by a group of police officers at a hotel in Gorakhpur, leading to his death. The CBI took over the investigation in November 2021, following an initial investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kanpur.
Several officers, including SI Rahul Dubey, Head Constable Kamlesh Yadav, and Constable Prashant Kumar, were identified as suspects, in addition to the three officers already named in the FIR.
Gupta had been visiting Gorakhpur with friends when the alleged assault occurred at Hotel Krishna Palace. According to the prosecution, the police party attacked Gupta and his friends, resulting in Gupta’s fatal injuries.
