CBI court frames charges against four Haryana police officers in 2017 murder case

A CBI court in Panchkula has formally framed charges against four Haryana Police officers in the 2017 murder of a seven-year-old schoolboy from Gurugram. The shocking case had drawn nationwide attention and outrage when the boy was found dead inside his private school in Bhondsi. The court has set January 22, 2026, as the next date for recording prosecution evidence and has summoned two key witnesses.

The officers facing trial are Narinder Singh Khatana, then SHO of Bhondsi police station; Birem Singh, then assistant commissioner of police, Sohna; Shamsher Singh, then sub-inspector at Bhondsi; and Subhash Chand, then ESI. They have been charged under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 120B (criminal conspiracy), 166A (disobedience of law), 167 (preparing an incorrect document), 194 (fabricating evidence to procure capital conviction), 330 (causing hurt to extort confession), and 506 (criminal intimidation). All accused have pleaded not guilty.

The case began on September 8, 2017, when the Class 2 student was found with his throat slit inside a school washroom. Public anger erupted immediately, and the Haryana Police quickly arrested Ashok Kumar, the school bus conductor, claiming he had attempted sexual assault and then murdered the boy. However, protests and doubts over the investigation’s irregularities grew, prompting the victim’s father to approach the Supreme Court. As a result, the Haryana government handed the case over to the CBI for a thorough investigation.

Findings of the CBI probe

The CBI investigation revealed serious lapses in the original police probe. Investigators concluded that the Haryana Police had framed the bus conductor, allegedly torturing him to extract a confession and fabricating documents to support a false case. The purpose, according to the CBI, was to shield the real culprit and mislead the public and the judiciary. A supplementary charge sheet filed in January 2021 accused the four officers of deliberately planting evidence, coercing statements, and constructing a false sequence of events that could have led to a death sentence for an innocent person.

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Following this, the CBI arrested a 16-year-old Class 11 student from the same school, alleging he had killed the boy to avoid upcoming exams and a parent-teacher meeting. The agency charged the juvenile under Section 302 (murder), backed by witness accounts and evidence that contradicted the original police story. The probe also highlighted the severe mental and physical trauma suffered by the bus conductor, who had spent months in custody before being cleared of all charges.

A significant obstacle in the trial process was the Haryana government’s initial refusal to grant sanction to prosecute the four officers. The CBI challenged this decision in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On January 24, 2025, the court quashed the refusal as “arbitrary” and directed a fresh review, clearing the path for the current framing of charges against the officers.

Court proceedings and public response

The case has now entered a crucial phase with the CBI court actively proceeding against the officers. The next hearing on January 22 will focus on recording prosecution evidence. The court’s action demonstrates a commitment to ensuring accountability for law enforcement officials who misuse power and undermine justice.

This case remains one of the most high-profile examples of police misconduct in India. It exposed serious flaws in the investigative process and highlighted how innocent individuals can suffer when authorities attempt to manipulate the system. Public awareness and legal scrutiny have been vital in ensuring the CBI could re-investigate the case and bring the responsible officers to trial.

The framing of charges is also significant in the larger context of police accountability. It sends a strong message that misuse of power, fabrication of evidence, and coercion cannot be tolerated, even by law enforcement personnel. Citizens, activists, and legal experts have widely welcomed the development, emphasizing the importance of transparency and justice for victims and their families.

Meanwhile, security and monitoring measures at the court have been increased due to public interest and media coverage. The proceedings will be closely watched, as this case could set a precedent for handling cases where police misconduct affects the course of criminal investigations.

As the trial progresses, the focus will remain on ensuring that justice is served for the seven-year-old boy and that the CBI’s findings are thoroughly examined in court. The next hearings will also be a test of the judicial system’s ability to hold law enforcement officers accountable for their actions. Families and communities continue to follow the case, hoping that the legal process brings closure and safeguards public trust in the justice system.