‘Take strict action against custodial death officers’

Expressing displeasure over the government’s apathy on implementing court’s order to ensure there is “zero custodial deaths” in the state, the Bombay high court on Tuesday told the government of Maharashtra to take immediate and strict action against police officers in cases of custodial death.

“Unless you (government) take strict and prompt action against police officers after custodial deaths, they will not stop,” observed the division bench of acting chief Justice V.M. Kanade and Justice Revati Mohite-Dere adding that the culprits should be punished to set an example for others and send out a message that the guilty would not be spared.

The bench also said, “Immediately suspend the officers, otherwise they will not bother. Take action otherwise we will have to pass order.”

When government pleader Mankuwar Deshmukh, on behalf of state told the court that sometimes suspects die natural deaths, the bench said, “Immediately take the body to the hospital, and don’t wait for a second. Do not use your usual ways.”

The court was informed the court that the CBI has sought sanction from the state government to prosecute police officers who were responsible for custodial deaths. Government pleader Mankuwar Deshmukh informed that such a proposal was under consideration of the state government and a decision on this would be taken soon.

The bench then granted four weeks to government to take a decision on the proposal.Advocate Deshmukh also informed the court that in keeping with the high court order of January 2015, regarding installation of CCTV cameras in police stations all over Maharashtra, the state would provide 25 CCTV cameras in some police stations and grant for this has been approved by the state’s finance department.