Taxidermist Van Ingen case: SC asks CID to complete probe by March 31

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday granted the Karnataka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) time till March 2018 to complete its probe into usurpation of the properties of world-renowned Mysuru-based taxidermist Edwin Joubert Van Ingen allegedly by a man, who claimed to be his adopted son. A three-judge bench presided over by Justice Ranjan Gogoi allowed an application filed by advocate Joseph Aristotle on behalf of the CID for further extension of time to finish the investigation in an FIR lodged in March 2013 at Mysuru’s Nazarbad Police Station by Van Ingen against Michael Floyd Eshwar. “As prayed, time until end of March, 2018 is granted for completion of the inquiry/investigation,” the Court said. The Bench, also comprising Justices R.F. Nariman and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, rejected a plea made by senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani for CBI probe into the matter. Jethmalani represented Eshwar, who declared himself to be the legal heir of the properties owned by Van Ingen. In an application, Eshwar accused six persons including the then Mysuru Deputy Commissioner of Police of creating a “forged record”. He also expressed apprehension that the investigation under the supervision of DGP CID would not be carried in fair, transparent and impartial manner. Van Ingen, a British national, died a bachelor at the age of 101 on March 12, 2013.