Overview

• Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan rejected the CBI’s plea of helplessness and said the agency appeared to be protecting the accused officers.
• The CBI reported filing a charge sheet on September 15 and arresting three officers, while naming Sanjiv Singh Malviya and Uttam Singh Kushwaha as still absconding despite warrants, proclamations and property-attachment efforts.
• The court sought a detailed status report and ordered affidavits from responsible officers by Thursday, warning it may frame contempt charges against the Madhya Pradesh chief secretary, the CBI director and the investigating officer.
• Petitioners alleged the sole eyewitness, Gangaram Pardhi, has been harassed and beaten in custody, and the bench cautioned authorities that any harm to him would be viewed very seriously.
• The case was moved from Madhya Pradesh police to the CBI on May 15 over suspected cover-up, with the death of Deva Pardhi disputed between torture allegations by his family and a heart attack claim by police.