The death of Jharkhand’s judge Uttam Anand has shaken the judicial system across the country. Additional district and sessions judge was killed by an unidentified vehicle which smashed him when he was on his daily morning walk.
The case was echoed in the Supreme Court on Thursday. Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said that he has connected to the Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court telephonically. He added, Jharkhand High Court has taken up the matter on the judicial side and has now taken sou moto cognizance of the incident.
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The incident was presented before CJI by the Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh. Singh said that the investigation should be handed over to the CBI. He further said that it is expected that the judge was killed because he denied the bail to a gangster, and that amounted to ‘a brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary.’
"If someone is killed like this after rejecting a gangster's bail, this is a dangerous situation for the judiciary. There should be a CBI inquiry," said Singh.
Singh continued and said that the video of the incident was recorded by someone who has prior knowledge of the attack.
CJI Ramana assured the anxious bar, “The high court has issued notice to the police and district officials. They are hearing this matter today. Let them handle it. It does not require interference by us at this stage. I have spoken to the Chief Justice this morning.”
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The recorded CCTV footage showed a three-wheeler rickshaw turning towards Uttam Kumar on a deserted road and hitting him intentionally.
The vehicle then can be seen driving away. Locals immediately rushed him to Dhanbad medical college, where the doctors declared him dead. Uttam Anand succumbed to his injuries around 8.30 am, the hospital stated.