Mother files contempt plea over police cover-up, delay in suspensions

New Delhi

The Supreme Court on Thursday sharply criticised the Madhya Pradesh government and the CBI for delaying the suspension of absconding police officers involved in a custodial death case, warning that contempt action could follow. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan observed that the two officers have been missing since April but were suspended only recently, despite the apex court’s May 15 order transferring the investigation from the state police to the CBI.

The CBI told the court that it had tracked financial transactions, monitored vehicles at highway tolls, examined social media accounts, and offered a cash reward, but efforts had not yielded results. The bench questioned anticipatory bail proceedings and the role of the state, stressing that the Madhya Pradesh government cannot avoid responsibility. “Officers are not reporting for months, and you stay silent? This is contempt of the Supreme Court order,” the judges said.

The court expressed dissatisfaction with the CBI’s report and summoned the state government’s counsel and home secretary to appear on Friday with an explanation. Previously, the bench had directed the CBI to arrest the officers within a month and warned that the agency would be accountable if anything happened to Gangaram Pardhi, the victim’s uncle and sole eyewitness. Justice Nagarathna added that the CBI’s claims of helplessness “appear to be a garb of protection” and urged immediate action to prevent another custodial death, highlighting the need for accountability and prompt enforcement of court orders.