Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court has ordered an inquiry against former Dahod superintendent of police and other police officials, nearly three years after they were allegedly involved in parading a riot accused in public in Devgadh Baria town. An officer of the rank of inspector general of police (IGP) will conduct the inquiry and submit report in three months.
The petition was filed by Majid Piplodiya, who, along with 17 others, was accused of rioting after allegedly assaulting a police party that had made arrests in Devgadh Baria in connection with a cow slaughter case on Janmashtami in Aug 2023.
After hearing the matter, Justice M K Thakker said, “The entrustment of inquiry to assistant superintendent of police by the inspector general of police is not acceptable and is required to be interfered with. He urged the high court to initiate action against police officials allegedly involved in the violation of law. The list included Zala, deputy superintendent of police Bishakha Jain, circle inspector Kirit Lathiya and three others. Zala is currently posted at the Cyber Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar. The state govt opposed the plea and denied the allegations. It submitted that an inquiry conducted by an assistant superintendent of police had concluded that the allegations were baseless. When the allegations are made against the district superintendent of police, entrustment of inquiry to his subordinate officer would not meet ends of justice. With regard to the allegations that the present applicant was taken to various places of Devgadh Baria town are required to be inquired by the officer not below the rank of inspector general of police. ” The high court, however, found no substance in the allegations of custodial torture. It directed the IGP to complete the inquiry into the alleged public parading of the accused in handcuffs within three months.