Particle.news
Download on the App Store
9 ARTICLES
·
2d ago

Bombay High Court Threatens Contempt Over Maharashtra's Non-Compliance in Custodial Death Probe

The court criticized the state government for failing to register an FIR against five police officers and transfer case files to the SIT as ordered, despite a month-old directive.

Image
After HC rap, state CID hands over Akshay Shinde encounter case papers to SIT
Image

Overview

  • The Bombay High Court rebuked the Maharashtra government for not registering an FIR against five police officers implicated in the custodial death of Akshay Shinde, accused in the Badlapur school sexual assault case.
  • The court had mandated the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under Joint Commissioner Lakhmi Gautam and the transfer of case files from the CID by April 9, 2025, but no action has been taken.
  • Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela Gokhale described the state’s inaction as a 'brazen violation' and warned of criminal contempt proceedings if compliance is not immediate.
  • Public Prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar informed the court that the state has challenged the April 7 directive in the Supreme Court, but the High Court emphasized that its orders remain binding as no stay has been granted.
  • The custodial death of Shinde, initially claimed by police as a retaliatory encounter, was deemed a staged killing by a January 2025 magisterial inquiry, which held five officers responsible.