Rouse Avenue Court Accepts CBI Closure Report In Najeeb Ahmed Disappearance Case

In a significant legal development, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has accepted the closure report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case of Najeeb Ahmed, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student who went missing in 2016 under mysterious circumstances.

Additional Judicial Magistrate Jyoti Maheshwari delivered the decision, formally ending active legal proceedings in the matter.

While accepting the closure report, the court allowed the CBI to reopen the case in the future if it uncovers new evidence related to Najeeb’s disappearance.

This provision leaves open a legal pathway should fresh leads or testimonies emerge.

Background: A high-profile disappearance

Najeeb Ahmed, a student of JNU’s School of Biotechnology, went missing on 15 October 2016 after an alleged altercation with members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at the Mahi-Mandavi hostel.

His sudden disappearance triggered widespread protests and raised questions about student safety, campus politics, and the role of investigative agencies.

Initially handled by the Delhi Police, the case was transferred to the CBI in 2017 on the orders of the Delhi High Court.

Despite several attempts, the central agency failed to trace Najeeb, eventually filing a closure report in 2018, citing a lack of evidence.

The court’s recent decision came in response to a plea filed by Najeeb’s mother, Fatima Nafees, who had challenged the CBI’s closure report.

She alleged that investigative agencies had failed to thoroughly probe the role of ABVP members and had not examined key leads.

Her petition demanded a fresh investigation into her son’s disappearance, claiming bias in the handling of the case.

During the hearings, the court had questioned the CBI regarding the last confirmed sighting of Najeeb.

The agency stated that he had reportedly visited Safdarjung Hospital on the day he went missing, but did not undergo a medico-legal examination (MLC).

The CBI further noted that it did not record statements from the hospital staff due to a lack of documentary evidence proving his presence there.

A long quest for justice

Fatima Nafees has remained vocal over the years, accusing authorities of shielding the accused and suppressing crucial evidence.

She maintains that the night before Najeeb vanished, he was physically assaulted by students affiliated with the ABVP.

Despite the court’s acceptance of the CBI’s closure report, the emotional and political resonance of the case continues.

Activists and civil society groups have called for accountability and transparency, urging authorities to uphold justice in cases involving vulnerable individuals and student activists.

While the legal chapter stands closed for now, the court’s decision permits the CBI to reopen the case if new information comes to light.

For the family of Najeeb Ahmed, the search for truth remains ongoing.

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