THE death of an Additional Sessions Judge of Dhanbad in what police suspect was a premeditated hit-and-run incident echoed in the Supreme Court Thursday with Chief Justice of India N V Ramana saying that he has spoken to the Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice in this regard.

The Jharkhand High Court has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the killing of ASJ Uttam Anand, 50, who was knocked down while on his morning walk Wednesday by an auto-rickshaw that visibly veered sharply towards him on an empty road. Jharkhand police officials told The news agencies that they are investigating the possibility of the incident being linked to an order or any action by the judge. No link has yet been revealed, said sources.

According to local court records examined by The Indian Express, ASJ Anand passed 36 orders in July, of which 34 pertained to regular or anticipatory pleas for bail in cases ranging from murder to coal smuggling he allowed the pleas in six. On Thursday, police detained autorickshaw drivers Lakhan Verma and Rahul Verma who, they said, were nabbed with the “stolen auto” that hit the judge. “Lakhan and Rahul have said that they drove the autorickshaw that hit the judge. However, the motive is not clear yet. The auto was stolen from Jharia on Tuesday night. Both are being questioned and will be arrested and sent to judicial custody,” Bokaro DIG Mayur Patel said.

News Source : Hindustan Times