Patna High Court on Monday dismissed a criminal petition filed by the father of a NEET aspirant who died under mysterious circumstances in a girls’ hostel here, following the Bihar government’s decision to hand over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Justice Arun Kumar Jha, hearing the single bench petition, noted that with the case now transferred to CBI, no further intervention was required at this stage. The court made it clear that if any shortcomings emerge in the CBI investigation, the petitioner remains free to approach the court again.
During the hearing, the state government informed the court that CBI had taken over the investigation and is expected to conduct a thorough probe and submit its report in due course. The petition, filed as a public interest litigation (PIL) by advocate Alka Verma, sought justice for the 11 January death of the student preparing for NEET exams.
The father alleged police inaction despite repeated efforts to identify and punish those responsible. He demanded the probe be supervised by a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge, or alternatively handed to an independent agency like CBI. Respondents included principal secretaries of home and health departments, DGP, Patna SSP, the local SHO, hostel owner, and three private hospitals.
The PIL also urged stricter enforcement of safety standards in hostels, especially for women students. This development comes amid growing concerns over student safety in coaching hubs like Patna, where aspirants flock for competitive exams. Families continue to demand accountability, hoping CBI’s involvement brings clarity to the tragic incident.