DELHI IS CRIME CAPITAL, BUT NO ONE ACCOUNTABLE

AST week in the midst of the Pahalgam crisis, a very important news got lost in the inside pages of the newspapers.

- SIDHARTH MISHRA Author and president, Centre for Reforms, Development & Justice

In a status report filed before the Supreme Court, the centre through the Additional Solicitor General submitted that 95 organised gangs were active in Delhi.

The report said that "a total of 95 organised criminal gangs have been identified, comprising an aggregate of 1,109 members, all of whom are presently undergoing trial proceedings." The submission was in the context of the delayed trial of the criminal cases.

The Supreme Court had taken grasp of the matter last year saying that hardened criminals commit crimes while out on bail — often granted on the ground of delay in trial.

The SC's observation had come while dealing with a bail plea by gangster Mahesh Khatri alias Bholi. The Centre has assured the apex court a proposal has been moved and was under active consideration to set up these special courts to deal with these criminal gangs.

While the discussion was limited to the delay in the trial, the report nevertheless also put focus on the fact that Delhi has become a centre of organised crime.

According to the report mentioned above, hardened criminal Jitender Gogi's gang's 153 members were facing trial in 553 cases and 'internationally acclaimed' Lawrence Bishnoi gang's 73 members were facing trial in 594 cases.