CBI Ordered To Reinvestigate High-Profile Murder Of RTI Activist Premkant Jha

Palghar, Maharashtra: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is set to reopen its investigation into the high-profile murder case of  Right to Information (RTI) activist Premkant Jha, following a court order rejecting its closure report. The court's decision has compelled the CBI to dig deeper into the unsolved crime.

Premkant Jha, a resident of Virar and an active RTI campaigner, was shot dead on February 24, 2012. The assailants fired a bullet directly to his head, killing him on the spot. A murder case was initially registered at the Virar police station, but local police failed to make significant headway in the investigation. 

Amid growing criticism and public outrage over the lack of progress, the case was transferred to the Crime Investigation Department (CID). However, the CID too was unable to crack the case, prompting the state government to hand over the investigation to the CBI in August 2014.

In a bid to gather crucial leads, the CBI had even announced a cash reward of Rs. 5 lakh in 2018 for anyone providing valuable information related to the murder. Despite efforts by the CBI and multiple other investigative agencies, the case remained unsolved. While two suspects were arrested during the course of the investigation, the lack of concrete evidence led to their release. The alleged mastermind, suspected of hiring the killers, remains at large to this day.

Owing to the lack of progress, the CBI had submitted a closure report to the court, seeking permission to end the investigation. However, the court dismissed the report, stating that the case could not be closed without a thorough investigation.

"In the absence of recording the statement of these two witnesses, it cannot be said that the investigation is completed," stated the judge. The order also mentioned the fact that the deceased died an unnatural death caused by hemorrhage and shock due to the firearm injury, and it is therefore necessary to record the statement of two eyewitnesses.

Now, following the court’s directive, the CBI will have to reopen the case and launch a fresh inquiry in hopes of uncovering the truth behind Premkant Jha’s brutal murder.