Rationalists' murder: HC raps probe agencies for leak

The Bombay High Court on Thursday rapped the probe agencies for revealing the details of Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare murder case.

The CBI is investigating the Dabholkar case and the Pansare murder case is being handled by the state-CID.

However, the Bombay High Court is monitoring the investigations of both the cases.

“Over-enthusiasm could be fatal,” remarked a division bench comprising Justice S C Dharmadhikari and Justice B P Colabawalla.

After the CBI and the state-CID submitted their investigation reports, the bench expressed concern that every day the probe agencies leak vital information to the media.

“This over-enthusiasm could be fatal. In such sensitive cases where the investigation is in crucial stages, it is not advisable for police to rush to the media. This shows total lack of maturity,” Justice Dharmadhikari said.

The bench also referred to the press conference of Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) Parambir Singh on the issue of the recent arrests of activists with Maoist links. “Such self-praise and self-patting on their backs by police machinery is not advisable. We see daily there is information in the press regarding such sensitive cases. At whose instance is information being given to the media?” Justice Dharmadhikari said.