CBI to probe killing of bizman by Delhi Police

The Home Ministry has handed over the probe into the gunning down of a businessman by the police at a restaurant in the national Capital nearly two months ago to the CBI.

The family of Manoj Vashisht, who was shot dead by a team of special cell of the Delhi Police at a Sagar Ratna restaurant in Rajendra Nagar on May 16, had alleged that it was a fake encounter.

The case has been handed over to CBI, official sources said. Vashisht's family had recently met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and urged him to get the probe transferred from the Delhi Police to the CBI. UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had also assured the family of Vashisht, hailing from Baghpat, that he would write to the Home Minister for a CBI probe. 

Vashisht, who was wanted in several cases of fraud and other crimes, was shot in the gunfight with an eight-member team of the special cell. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead. CCTV footage of the encounter, which was released by the police, show two policemen getting into a scuffle with Vashisht before he slumps after being shot. Police had claimed that seeing him firing from his licenced revolver, a constable had retaliated, leading to Vashisht’s death.