CBI takes over probe into Dewas liquor contractor’s ‘suicide’

Bhopal: The CBI on Tuesday formally took over the investigation into the alleged suicide of Dewas-based liquor contractor Dinesh Makwana in compliance with directions issued by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which had ordered an independent probe citing serious concerns over the manner in which the local police handled the matter.

This case has been assigned to the CBI’s anti-corruption branch, Bhopal.

Sources said the case was transferred to the CBI’s Bhopal unit after the HC directed Kanadia Police in Indore district to immediately hand over all records and materials related to the investigation to the central agency.

The CBI registered a regular case (RC) to look into the circumstances leading to Makwana’s death, including allegations contained in a purported suicide video, said sources.

The case involves allegations against the then assistant commissioner of the Excise department posted in Dewas, whom the contractor named as accused in a purported suicide video, alleging harassment and illegal monetary demands.

Makwana died after allegedly consuming Celphos, a pesticide tablet used for preserving stored grains, on November 8, 2025.

His family had approached the HC alleging that despite repeated representations and the existence of a suicide video purportedly recorded by the contractor, the police had failed to register an FIR or conduct a fair investigation into allegations of harassment and corruption linked to the case.

In an order passed on April 18, Justice Subodh Abhyankar observed that the allegations raised in the suicide video were serious and “could not be brushed aside”, especially since the victim had made detailed assertions before taking the extreme step. The court held that merely because the video had allegedly been recorded weeks before the suicide could not be a ground to dismiss its evidentiary value at the preliminary stage.

The high court also expressed concern over what it described as an apparent delay and reluctance by the local police in acting on the complaint despite the material having been made available soon after the death. The court noted that while a cyber forensic examination had been carried out, no FIR had been registered for months. It observed that the investigation appeared to lack urgency and credibility, warranting intervention to ensure a fair probe.

Significantly, the court rejected attempts at this stage to rely on a private forensic opinion questioning the authenticity of the suicide video, holding that such claims could not be used to discard the material before a proper investigation was undertaken. Instead, it ruled that there existed sufficient prima facie material for registration of an FIR and an impartial inquiry.

“The manner in which the entire investigation is being conducted” raised concerns, the HC stated, adding that confidence in the probe had been undermined. Stressing that orders for a CBI investigation are not to be passed routinely but only in exceptional circumstances, the bench held that the present case warranted transfer to an independent agency to ensure a free and fair investigation.

The court ordered that the investigation be handed over immediately to the CBI, directing the agency to register an FIR and bring the case to a “logical conclusion” after conducting its investigation.