CBI receives reference to probe Nido Tania's killing

NEW DELHI: CBI has received a reference from the Centre to probe the killing of 19-year-old youth Nido Tania allegedly by a group of traders in Lajpat Nagar area here on January 29.

CBI sources said after receiving the reference, the agency is studying the case before a decision on filing an FIR is taken.

They said the agency still has some reservations on taking up the case and a final call will be taken once all documents are analysed.

Son of a Congress MLA from Arunachal Pradesh Tania, a BA first year student in a private university, had an altercation with some shopkeepers at Lajpat Nagar in New Delhi on January 29 after they made fun of his hairstyle, following which they allegedly thrashed him.

He was found dead the next day at his residence. Delhi Police has already slapped murder charges against four persons in connection with the case. The police had informed Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Kumar that they booked accused Farman, Sunder, Pawan and Sunny Uppal under section 302 (murder) of IPC after the postmortem report revealed that Tania died of injuries to his head and face caused by a blunt object.

His death sparked large scale protests across the national capital and Arunachal Pradesh as it was alleged that he had become a victim of growing racism.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also recommended a magisterial inquiry into how Tania died following an assault on him and what was the response of the law enforcing agencies.