A special CBI court in Panchkula has rejected the Central Bureau of Investigation's closure report in the death of Manisha, an 18-year-old schoolteacher from Bhiwani, and ordered a fresh investigation, accepting a protest petition filed by her father. The detailed order of CBI Special Magistrate Anil Kumar Yadav, dated October 31, was released on Monday.

Source: The Tribune

Manisha went missing on August 11, 2025, and her body was recovered two days later from Singhani village in Bhiwani district. The Haryana Police had declared her death a suicide, and the CBI's account suggested poisoning. The court, however, noted that a five-member medical board of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had unanimously concluded that she died of a fatal neck injury caused by a sharp-edged weapon, that damage to her face was likely caused by a corrosive substance, and that animal involvement was ruled out.

Source: Mirror Now

Court: police may have told a 'white lie'; CBI 'endorsed the concocted story'

Casting serious doubt on the suicide theory, the court observed that the Haryana Police may have told a 'white lie' to pacify public anger and anguish, possibly to protect the real culprits, and said the CBI had 'tried its best to endorse the concocted story'. The magistrate found the investigation appeared biased and fundamentally defective, with critical evidence neglected or handled in ways that failed legal standards.

The court called the recovery of the two alleged suicide notes 'extremely doubtful'. Police had maintained that one note was recovered from a relative, Sanjay, by DSP Sanjeev Kumar, who headed the Special Investigation Team. During the court proceedings, Sanjay was called on speakerphone in the presence of the CBI investigating officer and denied handing over any suicide note, saying he had merely shown a writing on his mobile phone. The court questioned why the alleged note was never seized through a recovery memo before an independent witness.

DVR held for 40 days without a memo; CCTV never properly checked

The order also flagged the handling of the digital video recorder (DVR) of Ideal Nursing College in Singhani, which Manisha was scheduled to visit on the day she went missing. The court noted the premises were not properly checked despite demands from protesters, and that DSP Sanjeev Kumar had taken the college's DVR on August 17, 2025, without preparing a recovery memo and retained it for about 40 days — a violation of the mandatory videography provisions of Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. The magistrate also questioned the CBI's failure to explain who informed local police about the body, marks suggesting it had been shifted, and claims of CCTV footage showing Manisha buying poison when no such footage was available.

Fresh probe ordered; status report by December 23

The court directed that the further investigation be conducted by a station house officer or a CBI branch head, ordered a fresh examination of the alleged suicide note by at least three handwriting experts from two laboratories, scrutiny of the last calls made from Manisha's phone and call records, and an investigation into the roles of ASI Shakuntla, DSP Sanjeev Kumar, fertiliser shop owner Devendra and Ideal Nursing College owner Ashok Kumar Sangwan, including scientific tests the court named for them. A copy of the order has been sent to the CBI Director, and the agency must submit a status report on the renewed inquiry by December 23.