Supreme Court of India.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed displeasure with the CBI and the Madhya Pradesh government, with the suspension of police officials, who are accused in a custodial death case, only a day ago though they had been absconding since April this year.
“Officers are not coming on duty for so many months and you keep silent,” a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan questioned the state government as it was informed that the two officers were suspended on Wednesday.
Having noted that the police officials had been absconding since April, the bench asked, "Why suspended yesterday? You say they have been absconding since April. This means you are protecting them. Now this is really contempt."
The bench asked the counsel, “You have been searching for them since April. Why haven't you suspended them? What is the meaning of this? All your efforts are eyewash."
The CBI’s counsel contended that they are trying to trace the financial transactions of the police officials. The bench was informed that police officers' vehicles were being tracked on highway tolls.
The central agency’s counsel said the social media accounts have been scrutinised and a cash reward has also been announced, but no fruitful result has emerged.
The court was hearing a contempt plea of the mother of the 24-year-old victim, alleging non-compliance with the top court's May 15 order, transferring the investigation from Madhya Pradesh Police to the CBI.
It has been alleged that local police attempted a cover-up besides influenced the probe into his death.
The court also asked the CBI counsel about the anticipatory bail hearing of the police officials. "Have you gone and spoken to the advocate who appeared for him? Wasn't the state involved in the anticipatory bail? What did the government pleader advise? They could have arrested him," the bench said.
The court fixed the matter for further hearing on Friday and asked the counsel appearing for the state government and the home secretary to come with an explanation.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court criticised the CBI on its failure to arrest two police officers allegedly responsible for the custodial death of 24-year-old Deva Pardhi in Madhya Pradesh.