Supreme Court Issues Notice On Plea Seeking CBI/SIT Investigation Into Murder Of Congress Leader's Driver In Madhya Pradesh

The Supreme Court yesterday issued notice on a petition seeking transfer of investigation into the 2023 murder case pertaining to Salman Khan, who was allegedly run over by a car at the behest of politically influential persons.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the order, after hearing Advocate Varun Thakur.

The petition, filed by Salman Khan's widow, seeks transfer of investigation into the FIR lodged by Madhya Pradesh police to a Special Investigation Team or the Central Bureau of Investigation. The petitioner further seeks protection of her life and liberty, alleging that the deceased's family is being pressurized to settle the case.

Statedly, the FIR was registered against 18 persons under Sections 302/307/147/149/294/506 IPC, after it was complained that the deceased was murdered on the instructions of accused-Arvind Pateriya, who later went on to become an MLA.

The petitioner claims that despite lapse of over 1.5 years, neither the investigation has been completed by the local police nor the accused persons have been arrested. It is stated that the police officials are hand in glove with the accused, as the latter are strongmen and also politically influential.

Alleging a political angle in the case, the petitioner states that her husband was the driver of Indian National Congress candidate-Kunwar Vikram Singh who contested a Vidhan Sabha election against accused-Arvind Pateriya of BJP. On the fateful day, information was allegedly received that Pateriya and his supporters were distributing money to villagers. The deceased and others were on their way to the place to stop the activity, but en route, they were obstructed by cattle. When the deceased stepped down to clear the road, the accused came on the spot and ran a car over him. One Shivam tried to help the deceased, but he was also injured. After the incident, Pateriya won the election and nothing has been happening in the case, despite representation having been given to various authorities.

Case Title: RAJIYA ALI Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS., W.P.(Crl.) No. 364/2025