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Delhi high court paves way for CBI probe into Rajan Pillai's death

The Delhi high court today cleared the way for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the conspiracy aspect of the death of biscuit tycoon Rajan Pillai in mysterious circumstances during judicial custody in the capital's central Tihar Jail.

Justice D K Jain dismissed the revision petition of CBI against the order of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Prem Kumar directing the agency to inquire into any possible conspiracy behind the death of the businessman on the basis of a recent high court judgment.

The CBI contention behind challenging the order was that a trial court had no jurisdiction to direct any such investigation.

However, Justice Jain, citing the July 14 judgment of a division bench of the high court, rejected the plea.

The division bench had in its order upheld the power of the lower court to order a CBI inquiry into the case directly.

The CMM had ordered a CBI inquiry on the basis of a petition filed before it by the widow of the biscuit tycoon, Nina Pillai, who alleged that a far-fetched conspiracy was behind the death of her husband in the jail. She urged the court to direct a CBI probe on the conspiracy angle of the death of Rajan Pillai as she feared foul play in the death of her husband.

UNI