ITS officer’s death in 2023: Gujarat High Court orders FIR

Three years following the death of Jawri Mal Bishnoi, an Indian Trade Service officer and Joint Director General of Foreign Trade, the Gujarat High Court has mandated the registration of an FIR into the circumstances surrounding his demise. The court determined that the available evidence suggested a possible cognizable offense necessitating a criminal investigation.

Justice M K Thakker ordered the filing of the FIR against an unknown individual and directed the investigation to be conducted independently under the direction of the Deputy Inspector General of the CID Crime. The High Court granted the authorities three months to conclude the inquiry and submit a report to the High Court Registry.

The court emphasized that a judicial inquiry cannot replace a police investigation when a cognizable offense is alleged, and that a judicial inquiry cannot prevent the statutory investigation process if the material discloses a cognizable offense.