The Calcutta High Court today directed the CBI to file a progress report within four months on its investigation into the disappearance of Nicole Tamang, prime accused in the murder of All India Gorkha League chief Madan Tamang in Darjeeling on May 21 last year.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice J N Patel and Justice Asim Roy, directed the CBI to prepare the report on its progress in the investigation on June 23, after the agency sought time in view of the ongoing unrest in Darjeeling Hills.
CBI counsel Himangshu Dey submitted before the court that the agency, which has begun investigation into the case only over a fortnight ago, was hampered by the agitation in the Hills and that one of its vehicles had also been torched by miscreants on February 8.
Stating that some progress has been made, he prayed for time, which was granted by the court.
Mr. Nicole, a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha central committee member, had been absconding after the murder before being arrested by the CID on August 15, last year from a hideout at Bijonbari in Darjeeling town.
He had disappeared from CID custody in Pintail village, near Siliguri, on August 21 last year.
While the CID had claimed that Mr. Nicole had fled from its custody, his wife Prema Tamang filed a petition in the high court alleging foul play by the State investigating agency and prayed for a CBI probe.
Ms. Prema had filed a habeous corpus petition in the high court seeking production of her husband by the police.
