Case of the missing JNU student: Delhi police pulled up 

Delhi Police even allowed the ‘accused’ in the case of the missing JNU student Najeeb to delete their WhatsApp messages, it was revealed in the Delhi High Court on Friday. While deleting chats and messages on days just preceding or following the disappearance of Najeeb from the hostel, the court observed, did not prove guilt, the act certainly raises questions and should have been investigated by the police.

It’s no longer a secret that Delhi Police has not quite covered itself with glory while investigating the case. They failed to record witness statements, conducted searches belatedly and have failed to even interrogate the accused, all of them members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

The high court wondered why police did not bother to investigate who planted the news in the media that the missing JNU student may have joined the Islamic State. While the concerned reporter ( Rajshekhar Jha of Times of India) claimed he was tipped off by sources in Delhi Police, it was officially denied by Delhi Police. But then Delhi Police should find out who briefed the reporter in that case, the court observed.

Here are some of the scathing observations made by the Bench comprising Vipin Sanghi and Deepa Sharma on Friday. The next date of hearing is Tuesday, May 16.

• Last time we received the analysis of Najeeb's mobile and laptop in sealed covers (from Crime Branch). The Police commissioner or the SIT or the IO concerned say that it's so confidential and sensitive that even their trusted counsel cannot be shown the report. But we did not find anything confidential in it. Therefore we have to realise that there is a possibility that SIT is trying to sensationalise this issue and trying to escape.

• There is nothing on record to suggest that Najeeb searched for anything like that [ISIS]. You pitch it so high and show that there is something highly explosive, but when we opened (the sealed envelope) there was nothing in it at all. This gives us an impression that it was a fast one being played on us.

• There are so many witnesses but till we ask, you don't even record their statements. These accused people with whom he had a brawl on the previous night, you don't even bother to take them into custody.

• You beat around the bush but not in the bush, and you say that we have done so much. That's not done.

• What is the point of sending 400 people to search the entire country, when these people who are named as suspects from day one you don't search, you don't interrogate them and you don't record statements of the witnesses who say that he has been assaulted.

• No search, no interrogation of the accused, no witness statements for many months, what kind of investigation is going on.

• What have you done about their WhatsApp messages? We dare say that they have been deleted. That circumstance itself is incriminating, if somebody has deleted his WhatsApp chat of that particular period. We are not saying that they are guilty, but it surely warrants a proper investigation.

• What is the point of saying that we have formed such a high level SIT and we have sent so many officers. They have to search their own conscience. This is not the way. Who is heading the SIT? (To the DCP of Crime Branch Ramgopal Naik) This is not the way. I am not satisfied. A much better investigation is expected from the Delhi Police.

• Did you enqire from the journalist (Rajshekhar Jha, Times of India) and found out who planted the (ISIS) story in the press? This is more than damaging the reputation of the family.

• The journalist is quoting sources from the police. And if the police is denying this leak, then you should find out who did this.

• We have to uphold the rule of law. Otherwise today it is Najeeb, tomorrow it could be anybody else. Just because he belongs to a particular community and just because the persons who have been named here belong to another community or affiliation or the political party in power, it is very sad state of affairs.