Mother of missing JNU student moves Delhi HC to trace her son

Forty-two days after JNU student Najeeb Ahmed went missing, his mother on Friday moved the Delhi high court seeking a direction to the government and police to produce him before the court.

Najeeb, a student of school of biotechnology and a native of Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, went missing from the hostel on October 15 a day after an alleged scuffle with the members of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

A bench of Justice GS Sistani and Justice Vinod Goel issued notice to the Delhi government and police on the plea by the 27-year-old student’s mother, Fatima Nafees. The bench told Delhi Police to file a status report within three days.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who appeared for the mother, said that there was a “political connection in the case” because of the involvement of student group which is close to the ruling government.

Gonslaves said the family of the missing student was “skeptical that police will not do anything” compelling them to knock the court’s door.

Najeeb’s mother has urged the court to set up a court-appointed special investigation team (SIT) of “impartial officers of proven integrity from outside the state of Delhi” to take over the entire investigation from Delhi Police crime branch.

Read | Najeeb Ahmed row: JNU Students blame Delhi Police for delay in efforts to trace him

She has alleged that her son was beaten up by members of ABVP “which is affiliated to the RSS and therefore, closely connected with the BJP which is the party in power at the Centre”.

“Since the Delhi Police comes under the control of the Central government, it is not likely that any progress will be made in the investigation,” she said.

Earlier this week, a proctorial enquiry by the university found an ABVP member guilty of assaulting Ahmed during a brawl over a month ago, a day after which Ahmed went missing.

Delhi Police has also raised the reward amount from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh for anyone providing information that could help locate Ahmed.

Following Ahmed’s disappearance, JNU students and teachers have been protesting against the university administration and Delhi Police.

Delhi Police had last month set up an SIT on the orders of Union home minister Rajnath Singh. The case was later transferred to the crime branch.

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