New Delhi, July 13 (IANS): The investigation in the killing of criminal Manoj Vashishth by Delhi Police's Special Cell in a restaurant has been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Delhi High Court was told on Monday.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain told Justice Ashutosh Kumar that the probe has been transferred to CBI, with the union home ministry issuing the necessary directions on July 10.

Vashishth was shot dead in Sagar Ratna restaurant in central Delhi's Rajendra Place area in May. His family has alleged that he was killed in "cold blood" in a "staged shootout" and his wife had moved court last month, seeking the transfer of the investigation to CBI.

According to police, Vashishth had more than 50 cases of attempt to murder and cheating registered against him in Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh.

Along with his wife and father-in-law, he was also wanted in a case of cheating registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), they added.

Vashishth, a resident of west Delhi's Patel Nagar, hailed from Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat city.