UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Bombay HC orders CBI investigation into death of celebrity manager Disha

Q1. Article 226 of the Constitution, besides empowering a High Court to issue directions and orders generally, expressly names certain writs by their traditional titles. How many such writs are named by title in Article 226?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Six

Q2. With reference to the writ powers of the higher judiciary in India, which one of the following is the principal respect in which a High Court's power is wider than that of the Supreme Court in enforcing rights?

  • A. It is available for the enforcement of Part III rights and also for any other purpose, that is, for ordinary legal rights
  • B. It is itself a guaranteed fundamental right and therefore cannot be declined on grounds of discretion or alternative remedy
  • C. It reaches authorities located outside the court's territories irrespective of where the cause of action has arisen
  • D. It is the only writ power in the Constitution that survives a Presidential order made during a Proclamation of Emergency

Q3. With reference to the legal status and institutional structure of the Central Bureau of Investigation, consider the following statements: 1. It draws its police powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, and not from any statute enacted specifically to create the CBI. 2. It functions under the administrative control of the Department of Personnel and Training. 3. Superintendence over it, in so far as investigation of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 is concerned, vests in the Central Vigilance Commission. 4. Its Director is appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee chaired by the Chief Justice of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It draws its police powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, and not from any statute enacted specifically to create the CBI.
  2. It functions under the administrative control of the Department of Personnel and Training.
  3. Superintendence over it, in so far as investigation of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 is concerned, vests in the Central Vigilance Commission.
  4. Its Director is appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee chaired by the Chief Justice of India.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q4. The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, as amended in 2021, allows the tenure of the Director of the CBI to be extended one year at a time in public interest. Counted from the date of initial appointment, up to a maximum of how many years may the Director hold office?

  • A. Three years
  • B. Four years
  • C. Five years
  • D. Seven years

Q5. With reference to the requirement of State consent for investigation by the CBI, consider the following statements: 1. Members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment cannot exercise powers and jurisdiction in an area within a State without the consent of that State Government. 2. Areas that are Union territories are outside the scope of this consent requirement. 3. Railway areas are outside the scope of this consent requirement. 4. Even where a State has withdrawn its general consent, an investigation may be taken up by the CBI on the specific directions of a Constitutional Court. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment cannot exercise powers and jurisdiction in an area within a State without the consent of that State Government.
  2. Areas that are Union territories are outside the scope of this consent requirement.
  3. Railway areas are outside the scope of this consent requirement.
  4. Even where a State has withdrawn its general consent, an investigation may be taken up by the CBI on the specific directions of a Constitutional Court.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. With reference to the general consent regime governing CBI investigations, consider the following statements: 1. Consent under the DSPE Act may be given either generally for classes of cases or specifically for a particular case. 2. Withdrawal of general consent by a State operates retrospectively, so that cases already registered by the CBI in that State before the withdrawal must be handed back to the State police. 3. After a withdrawal of general consent, the CBI taking over an FIR registered by the local police requires the State Government's consent together with a notification by the Central Government extending the powers and jurisdiction of CBI officers. 4. A State that has withdrawn its general consent can thereby prevent a High Court from directing a CBI investigation into an offence committed within that State. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Consent under the DSPE Act may be given either generally for classes of cases or specifically for a particular case.
  2. Withdrawal of general consent by a State operates retrospectively, so that cases already registered by the CBI in that State before the withdrawal must be handed back to the State police.
  3. After a withdrawal of general consent, the CBI taking over an FIR registered by the local police requires the State Government's consent together with a notification by the Central Government extending the powers and jurisdiction of CBI officers.
  4. A State that has withdrawn its general consent can thereby prevent a High Court from directing a CBI investigation into an offence committed within that State.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q7. In June 2020, the death of celebrity manager Disha Salian at Malad and the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput at Bandra occurred within days of each other, a proximity that drove the demand to link the two probes. The two deaths were separated by an interval of how many days?

  • A. Two days
  • B. Six days
  • C. Eleven days
  • D. Nineteen days

Q8. With reference to the Disha Salian case and the Bombay High Court's order of September 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The Mumbai Police originally treated the death as an Accidental Death Report and did not register a First Information Report. 2. The petition decided by the Bombay High Court was filed by the deceased's father, seeking registration of an FIR and transfer of the investigation to the CBI. 3. While ordering the CBI investigation, the Division Bench directed that the individuals named in the petition be arraigned as accused at the outset of the investigation. 4. The petitioner had earlier moved the Supreme Court, which itself ordered the transfer of the investigation to the CBI. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Mumbai Police originally treated the death as an Accidental Death Report and did not register a First Information Report.
  2. The petition decided by the Bombay High Court was filed by the deceased's father, seeking registration of an FIR and transfer of the investigation to the CBI.
  3. While ordering the CBI investigation, the Division Bench directed that the individuals named in the petition be arraigned as accused at the outset of the investigation.
  4. The petitioner had earlier moved the Supreme Court, which itself ordered the transfer of the investigation to the CBI.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q9. In the police handling of a death that is sudden or of doubtful cause, the term 'inquest' most precisely denotes which one of the following?

  • A. An inquiry by the police into the apparent cause of death, whose report is forwarded to the District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Magistrate
  • B. An examination of the body by a registered medical practitioner to establish the medical cause and manner of death
  • C. The entry of information about a cognizable offence in the station diary made before a formal case is drawn up against any person
  • D. A proceeding in which a Magistrate examines the material and commits the matter concerning the death for trial before a Sessions Court

Q10. Which one of the following is the leading Supreme Court judgment laying down that registration of a First Information Report is mandatory when the information received discloses a cognizable offence, and in which year was it delivered?

  • A. Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh, 2014
  • B. Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh, 2008
  • C. Vineet Narain v. Union of India, 1997
  • D. Prakash Singh v. Union of India, 2006

Q11. Which one of the following is the lead central agency for investigating terrorism-related offences in India, being empowered by its parent statute to investigate the offences listed in a Schedule to that statute even when they are committed outside India?

  • A. The Central Bureau of Investigation
  • B. The Enforcement Directorate
  • C. The National Investigation Agency
  • D. The Narcotics Control Bureau

Q12. While holding registration of an FIR to be mandatory on information disclosing a cognizable offence, the Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari nevertheless set out an illustrative list of categories of cases in which a preliminary inquiry may first be made. How many such categories were listed?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Seven