The Delhi High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a status report on a plea seeking reinvestigation into the 1975 assassination of Lalit Narayan Mishra. Convicts have appealed, while family alleges real culprits were exonerated.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a status report clarifying its position regarding a plea for re-investigation into the assassination of former Railway Minister Lalit Narayan Mishra, which occurred during a bomb blast in 1975
Two individuals convicted in the case have appealed their convictions before the High Court, while Mishra’s family is advocating for a re-investigation, claiming that the true perpetrators were exonerated.
During a hearing on February 24, the CBI’s counsel indicated that he had received verbal instructions for the agency to support the 2014 trial court ruling that convicted five individuals, three of whom are now deceased, including the appellants currently before the Court.
The Division Bench, consisting of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Madhu Jain, instructed the CBI to file a status report to document its position.
The Court decreed,
“Let a status report be filed by the CBI taking a stand on this aspect. The said report shall be filed by an officer of not less than the rank of the Joint Director. The status report shall be filed by the CBI at least two days before the next date of hearing,”
The next hearing is scheduled for March 25.
Factual Background:
The case revolves around a 1975 bomb blast at the Samastipur Railway Station in Bihar, which resulted in the death of then-Railway Minister LN Mishra. The explosion claimed three lives and left eighteen individuals injured.
The investigation was transferred from the Bihar CID to the CBI within a few days. Followers of a particular sect known as ‘Anand Margis’ were implicated, and the two convicts appealing their cases belong to this group.
During the investigation, the 1975 National Emergency was declared and lasted eighteen months. After the Emergency ended, the then Chief Minister of Bihar ordered a confidential inquiry into the incident, which yielded a report in 1978.
Mishra’s family has referenced the 1978 report to argue that the actual conspirators and planners behind the bomb blast were incorrectly cleared of charges.
In 1979, the case was moved to Delhi. In 2014, nearly forty years later, a Delhi trial court convicted five individuals, sentencing them to life imprisonment. Of the five convicts, three have since died, and the remaining two have appealed to the High Court, asserting they were wrongfully implicated. In 2015, the High Court suspended their sentences.
Meanwhile, Mishra’s family sought to intervene in the proceedings and also approached the Supreme Court regarding this matter.
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On February 11, the Supreme Court instructed the Delhi High Court to expedite the hearing of the case.
Before the High Court, the late minister’s family reiterated their belief that the true offenders remain unpunished and requested a fresh investigation to hold them accountable. The two convicted individuals from 2014 have also supported the call for a new probe, claiming they were wrongfully charged.
The Court will continue hearing the case next month after the CBI submits its report on its stance.
The Court emphasized that, in light of the Supreme Court’s directive for a prompt resolution, no adjournments will be permitted.
The Court stated,
“Considering the directions given by the Supreme Court via order dated, 11th February 2026, no adjournment slip shall be entertained and no adjournments shall be granted,”
Advocates Sima Gulati and Pankaj Yadav represented the convicts, while Special Public Prosecutor Rajesh Kumar, along with advocates Mishika Pandita, Changez Khan, Siddharth Shekhar, Ajit Sharma, Kanchan, Raghav Sood, and Aditya Jha, appeared for the CBI.
Advocates Ajit Sharma and Vaibhav Mishra represented the family of the late minister, with Vaibhav Mishra being LN Mishra’s grandson.
Case Title: Santoshanand Avadhut @ Ghanshyam Prasad & Anr v. Central Bureau of Investigation
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