The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for anyone who came forward with information on the whereabouts of missing Jawaharlal Nehru University student Najeeb Ahmad, reported ANI. The Delhi High Court had transferred the case to the CBI on May 16. The next hearing in the matter is on July 17.

While handing over the case, the court had ordered the agency to appoint an officer no lower than the rank of a deputy inspector general of police to handle the investigation. The case was handed over to the CBI after Ahmad’s mother had filed a petition, and the police had said they had no objection to it.

The 27-year-old biotechnology student was reported missing on October 15, 2016, after a spat with members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. He was initially described by university officials as an “accused” in the events of that night, but after he went missing, the police had registered a case of abduction and offered a reward for any information on his whereabouts.

Following orders from Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh, the Delhi Police had also formed a special team to find Ahmad. The police had failed to make any major breakthrough since his disappearance, triggering criticism and protests against the authorities.