SC raps MP over custodial death

SUPREME COURT

- UtkarshAnand

The Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on the Madhya Pradesh government for “colluding with” two absconding police officers accused in the custodial death of a 24-year-old youth.

The court issued contempt notice to the state's additional chief secretary and demanded an explanation on how the inspectors continued to receive their salaries until just a day ago, despite being on the run since April.

A bench of justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan expressed shock that despite its May 15 order—transferring the probe from the state police to CBI and directing immediate arrest of the accused—the officers remained at large while the state only suspended them five months later on Wednesday.

“Why are you protecting them? They were absconding and not working for the last five months. The order was issued in May and you suspended them only yesterday. This is unacceptable. This itself is contempt of court. We will issue notice of contempt to the chief secretary and the additional chief secretary. Let this case be an example for all states,” the bench warned.