1 2026:CGHC:6175-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPCR No. 72 of 2026 • Dhruw Kumar Pradhan S/o Pyari Lal Pradhan, Aged About 55 Years, R/o Deendayal Puram, Phase-2, Chhote Attarmuda, Raigarh, Tahsil and District Raigarh (C.G.) ... Petitioner versus 1 - State of Chhattisgarh Through the Secretary, Ministry of Home, Mahanadi Bhawan, Mantralaya, Naya Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.) 2 - The Superintendent of Police, Raigarh, District - Raigarh (C.G.) 3 - The Station House Officer, Police Station - City Kotwali, Raigarh, District - Raigarh (C.G.) ... Respondents (Cause-title taken from Case Information System) For Petitioner : Mr. Hari Agrawal, Advocate. For Respondents-State : Mr. S.S. Baghel, Govt. Advocate. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, Judge Order on Board Per Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice 04-02-2026 1. Heard Mr. Hari Agrawal, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. S.S. Baghel, learned Government Advocate for the State/respondents No. 1 to 3. Digitally signed by MOHAMMED AADIL KHAN Date: 2026.02.06 11:20:02 +0530 2 2. The present petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been filed by the petitioner seeking the following relief(s):- “a. A writ and / or an order in the nature of appropriate writ do issue directing the respondent authorities to conclude the inquiry initiated pursuant to the untimely death of the petitioner’s son who had died on 18.08.2025, under mysterious/suspicious circumstances and particularly the viscera/FSL report which has not been submitted for the past five months be directed to be obtained & submitted within a time framed fixed by this Hon’ble Court. b. Any other relief which this Hon’ble Court may deem fit in the facts and circumstances of case. c. Cost of the petition may also be awarded.” 3. The petitioner is father of deceased Sushant Pradhan. On 18.08.2025 dead body of deceased Sushant Pradhan was found in Kelo Dam, Raigarh and merg intimation was recorded by City Kotwali, Raigarh police vide Merg No.56/2025. The petitioner had made a complaint that on 18.08.2025 at about 11.00 a.m. when the deceased was missing he came to know that his son Sushant Pradhan had gone to visit Kelo Dam along with his friends Mulendra Singh Sisodiya and Avinash Sarthi, but his whereabouts were missing thereafter. After recovery of dead body of the 3 deceased it was sent for postmortem and the doctor has opined that cause of death can be ascertained after submission of FSL examination report, however, postmortem finding are consistent with death due to drowning. The grievance of the petitioner is that the police authorities have not inquired the matter properly and till date the investigation has not been concluded and no FSL report has been obtained by the police. Therefore, police authorities may be directed to conclude the merg inquiry as early as possible. 4. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State on instruction would submit that police is inquiring into the matter with due process of inquiry. 5. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the documents annexed with the petition. 6. Considering the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, considering the grievance of the petitioner that his son is found dead in Kelo Dam and merg intimation was lodged on 18.08.2025 and till date merg inquiry could not be concluded for want of FSL report or other reasons, we deem it appropriate to direct the respondent-police authorities to conclude the merg inquiry/investigation within eight weeks from the date of receipt of FSL/viscera report from the concerned FSL. The police authorities shall make all their endeavour to collect the FSL/viscera report expeditiously from the concerned FSL. 4 7. With the aforesaid observation and directions, the present petition stands disposed of. 8. Copy of this order shall be forwarded through State counsel to the concerned Superintendent of Police within a week from today. Sd/- Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) (Ramesh Sinha) Judge Chief Justice Aadil