Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 22: High Court today transferred the theft of 400-year old manuscript of Quran from Sri Partap Singh (SPS) Museum to Central Bureau of Investigation.
The case of theft of manuscript of Quran has been transferred to CBI after Inspector General of Police (IGP) made the statement that the investigation has not been carried fairly by Crime Branch.
The IGP told the court that CBI can properly and effectively investigate the case as the agency (CBI) besides having technical manpower has resources and expertise to conduct the investigation in such type of cases. He suggested that the case should be transferred to CBI for investigation.
Court in view of the suggestions made by the IGP transferred the case to CBI for investigation. “We direct the investigation of FIR NO. 106/2003 shall stand transferred to CBI and CBI shall conduct the investigation in the case”, directed the Division Bench of Justice MH Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey.
Court directed the Crime Branch, Kashmir to handover the record of the case to the authorities of the CBI. Trial Court has also been directed to handover the case dairies to Crime Branch so as to enable the CB to hand over them to CBI.
Court hoped that the CBI will conclude the investigation within reasonable time. “We are further satisfied that proper and effective investigation will certainly result in tracing of the manuscript of Holy Quran as also identification of culprits”, DB said.
Court expressed its displeasure over the final report (closure report) submitted by Crime Branch before the Trial Court and observed it does not comply with the norms of investigation. Court also recorded that slackness of Trial Court while passing the order after filing of closure report by CB. “The order passed by the Trial Court also suffers lack of application of mind”, DB said.
It is pleaded that apart from the manuscript of Holy Quran which is believed to have been hand written by the Mughal Emperor, 84 coins among them 8 are of gold and 76 of silver are also missing from the Museum.
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by a Srinagar based social organization, Valley Citizen’s Council, seeking directions for the protection and conservation of artifacts, monuments and excavation sites in Kashmir.
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