The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the Madhya Pradesh government and the CBI for the delay in suspending two absconding police officials accused in a custodial death case, though they have not shown up for work for five months.
The case involves the death of 24-year-old Deva Pardhi after his arrest in a theft case along with his uncle, Gangaram Pardhi, who remains in custody. The two officers Sanjit Singh Mawai and Uttam Singh Kushwaha, who have been absconding since April, were suspended on September 24.
A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan was hearing a contempt plea of the mother of the victim alleging non-compliance with the top court's May 15 order, transferring the investigation from the Madhya Pradesh Police to the CBI. The Supreme Court had on May 15 ordered the CBI to arrest all officers responsible for the incident within one month, after finding that the local police were attempting to cover up and influence the investigation into Pardhi's death.
After getting to know that the two officers were suspended only on Wednesday, Justice Nagarathna remarked, "You are colluding with them... You have been searching for them since April. Why yesterday (they were suspended)? You say they are absconding since April. This means you are protecting them."
During the course of the hearing on Thursday, Additional Solicitor General Raja Thakare, appearing for the CBI, told the court that the agency had undertaken various steps to trace the two officers including physical surveillance, tracking financial transactions, looking for their vehicles on tolls and scrutinising social media accounts.
After hearing these submissions, the bench said it was not convinced by the CBI's efforts. Justice Nagarathna said, "What is the meaning of this? This is all eyewash."
Trying to calm down the court, Thakare added that the CBI even issued a reward of ₹2 lakh for credible information on their whereabouts, and raided all their known hideouts.
"That will not help. You have to take stringent measures," the bench observed, saying that the continued failure to act amounted to contempt of the Supreme Court.
Deva Pardhi's mother has alleged that her son was tortured and killed by the police. The MP police claimed he died of a heart attack.
"This can't go on like this. Despite a Supreme Court order, you (CBI) are unable to act. Then what is the use? Please don't plead helplessness. We will only say your helplessness feels in the garb of protection," Justice Nagarathna said.
The matter will be taken up for further hearing on September 26.