The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a PIL seeking a CBI probe into the alleged police encounter with 28-year-old Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bihar’s Bhojpur district.
A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Shail Nagu informed the lawyer who filed the PIL that he may approach the relevant High Court to file his petition.
The PIL filed by lawyer Vishal Tiwari sought registration of an FIR against the police personnel who allegedly killed Tiwari and formation of an independent expert committee headed by a former Supreme Court judge to investigate the extrajudicial killings.
Bharat Bhushan Tiwari, a student and local activist from Beloti village in Bihar’s Bhojpur district, died in an alleged encounter with police on June 17.
Tiwari was known locally for his strong efforts in raising awareness about local corruption and administrative failure, specifically highlighting the government’s lack of rehabilitation of flood-affected people in Goania village.
Frustrated with government officials, Tiwari posted videos on Facebook showing himself brandishing an illegal weapon and threatening to “confront” local administrative officials.
On June 16, Bhojpur police issued an official statement declaring that Tiwari was “mentally ill” and that they were trying to disarm him and shift him to a mental institution for treatment. On June 17, the encounter culminated in Tiwari being shot and he later succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Bhojpur police claimed that Tiwari continuously fired 8 to 10 rounds from an illegal pistol at the police team, forcing the STF personnel to respond in self-defence.
A video broadcast on Facebook Live just before the shooting showed Tiwari standing in an open field, addressing the camera and throwing his gun at police in an apparent gesture of surrender.
His family and residents say police shot an unarmed man who had already surrendered.
The incident escalated into a major political and legal crisis in the state of Bihar. Following popular protests and intense political pressure, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary ordered a formal independent judicial inquiry led by a retired Supreme Court judge. The administration quickly suspended four police officers, including the local police officer (SHO), pending investigation.
Bharat Bhushan Tiwari’s father has demanded justice, raising serious concerns about the manner in which his son was killed. Speaking to reporters here, Kashinath Tiwari said: “People all over the world were watching how he was killed. If I don’t get justice, what will I get? The administration, judges and everyone were watching his killing. There is nothing to hide here. They say there will be an investigation, but no one knows what the outcome will be.”