A special court in Panchkula has rejected the closure report submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation regarding the mysterious death of 19-year-old play-school teacher Manisha from Bhiwani, Haryana. Acting on a protest petition presented by the deceased's family, the court instructed the central agency to conduct a fresh and comprehensive probe into the matter. The judicial directive effectively sends the investigation back to the agency, rekindling hopes of accountability and justice for the grieving family.
Family Contested Suicide Conclusion Drawn by Agency
The central agency had filed its closure report before the special court on August 12, 2026, concluding an inquiry that lasted roughly one and a half years by categorizing the young teacher's death as a suicide. Manisha's father, Sanjay Kumar, firmly disputed these conclusions and legally challenged the submission. Sanjay stated that the judicial ruling has revived their faith in the justice system, noting that the underlying facts and circumstances never aligned with the claim of suicide.
Senior IPS Officer Assigned to Lead Fresh Probe
Advocate Bhagwan Singh, representing the father, stated that the rejection of the closure report offers a crucial glimmer of hope for the family and the wider community. The court has directed that a senior IPS officer take charge of the renewed investigation. The counsel noted that the family's pursuit is not against the administration, emphasizing that they are appealing to both the Haryana government and the central government to cooperate fully and ensure a fair, transparent investigation that delivers justice for Manisha.
Timeline from Disappearance to the Discovery of the Body
The incident traces back to August 11, 2025, when 19-year-old Manisha went missing from Dhani Laxman village in Bhiwani district. Her body was discovered two days later, on August 13, 2025, in the agricultural fields of Singhani village. While local police initially treated the case as a suspected suicide, intense public outcry and sustained protests from family members led to the investigation being transferred to the central probe agency.
Petitions Highlighted Inconsistencies in Evidence and Forensic Reports
The protest petition moved by Sanjay Kumar and advocate Harsh Mohan Singh challenged fundamental aspects of the agency's closure findings. The legal challenge raised significant concerns regarding the handwriting verification of the alleged suicide note, discrepancies within the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) assessment, and the handling of physical evidence recovered from the scene where the body was found. Taking note of these contested points, the special court deemed the closure report unsustainable and ordered the probe reopened.
