The Uttarakhand High Court has pulled up the state CID for failing to file a progress report in connection with the alleged abduction of five district panchayat members during the Nainital District Panchayat president and vice president elections held on August 14.
A division bench of Chief Justice G. Narendra and Justice Subhash Upadhyay expressed displeasure over the lack of action against the absconding accused despite earlier directions. The court has directed the state government to submit a detailed progress report by October 17, the next date of hearing.
During Wednesday’s hearing, government representatives and four investigating officers appeared before the bench and informed that four FIRs had been registered in connection with the incident. However, the bench was not convinced and sought specific details on the current status of the investigation.
Petitioners opposed the state’s plea for more time and argued that the probe should be handed over to a higher-level agency, expressing dissatisfaction with the CID’s handling of the case so far. The court took note that no report had been filed even two months after the election and directed the government to provide a comprehensive account of the steps taken in the matter.
The controversy stems from allegations by the Congress party, which claimed that five of its district panchayat members were abducted to prevent them from voting in the crucial election for the posts of president and vice-president of the Nainital district panchayat. The High Court later intervened, ensuring the abducted members were able to cast their votes under security arrangements.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had earlier stated that the CBI-CID would conduct a thorough investigation into all FIRs filed in connection with the incident.
