New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday accepted the closure report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the missing case of JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, who vanished under mysterious circumstances on October 15, 2016. The court, however, granted liberty to reopen the case if any fresh evidence emerges in the future.
The closure report had been filed in 2018 after the central probe agency concluded that its extensive investigation failed to trace Ahmed. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Jyoti Maheshwari approved the closure of the case, while acknowledging the ongoing anguish of Ahmed’s family.
“We have seen no trace of Ahmed despite all efforts. If fresh evidence surfaces, the case may be reopened,” the court observed.
Ahmed’s mother, Fatima Nafees, had challenged the CBI’s closure report, arguing that the probe was politically influenced.
“This is a political case… The CBI has succumbed to the pressure of its masters,” her counsel said.
Background of the Case
Najeeb Ahmed, a student of M.Sc. Biotechnology at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), went missing from his hostel room (Mahi-Mandvi Hostel, Room 106) shortly after an alleged scuffle with students reportedly affiliated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Although the hostel warden reportedly saw Najeeb leaving the campus in an auto-rickshaw the next morning, he was never seen again.
Initially investigated by the Delhi Police, the case was later transferred to the CBI. In its investigation, the agency said Ahmed had visited Safdarjung Hospital but declined treatment and did not get a medico-legal certificate (MLC).
“Upon visiting the hospital, Ahmed was advised to get an MLC prepared. However, he, accompanied by his friend Md Quasim, went back to the hostel and did not get any MLC prepared,” the CBI told the court.
Despite tracking over 600 leads and examining numerous witnesses, the CBI’s investigation yielded no breakthrough. The Delhi High Court had previously permitted the agency to file its closure report.
What Happened on October 15, 2016?
According to Ahmed’s mother, Najeeb had returned to JNU on October 13, 2016, after a short vacation. On the night of October 15, he called his mother, saying “something wrong had happened.” The next day, when she reached his hostel, she found that he had already gone missing.
In her FIR, Fatima Nafees mentioned that Ahmed’s roommate, Kasim, informed her of the fight involving ABVP-linked students. Since then, Najeeb’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Despite the court’s decision, the case continues to resonate as a powerful symbol of alleged campus violence, institutional apathy, and the search for justice.