The case related to the mysterious death of sub-inspector Pearlystone Joshua Marbaniang at Patharkhmah, Ri-Bhoi district in January 2015 has taken a new twist.
His mother Dorothy Marbaniang has moved a writ petition in the Meghalaya High Court seeking CBI inquiry into the death of her son.
However, after her death, no heir or legal representative is available or willing to further pursue the petition. Therefore, the High Court has today decided to pursue the case on its own motion.
In its previous order of May 31, the division bench of Meghalaya High Court has clearly indicated that in view of the circumstances in which the petition was filed, even if no one stepped up to prosecute the same upon the death of the original writ petitioner, the court could look into the papers and make appropriate orders on its own motion.
Meanwhile, according to the State government, the investigation into the death of the police sub-inspector was completed quite some time back and the trial has commenced. The State government also told the High Court that the trial has progressed substantially.
During today’s hearing, the High Court directed the State government to produce copies of all papers pertaining to the matter, particularly the report filed by the investigating agency, the charge-sheet and the evidence recorded thus far.
“Such papers should be made available within a fortnight from date,” the High Court said while listing the matter for hearing on July 12.
It may be mentioned that this writ petition filed by Dorothy Marbaniang when she was alive was disposed of by the High Court by an order of March 22, 2016.
The petition was revived by an order of the Supreme Court passed on May 8, 2023 with a mandate to the Meghalaya High Court to dispose of the writ petition afresh upon considering whether the investigation ought to be handed over to some other agency.
The top court also set aside the judgment and order passed by the Meghalaya High Court on March 22, 2016 which rejected the plea by Dorothy Marbaniang seeking CBI enquiry into the death of her son.
It may be noted that Dorothy Marbaniang in her plea before the Supreme Court has alleged that there was no proper investigation carried out on the un-natural death of her son, who was the Officer-in-Charge of Patharkhmah police outpost in Ri-Bhoi district and the investigation was on the wrong track and was converted into suicide.
