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Kheda Muslim flogging incident: High Court sentences 4 Gujarat Police officers to 14-day imprisonment

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday sentenced four Gujarat Police officers to simple imprisonment of 14 days, after finding them guilty of Contempt of Court for violating the Supreme Court’s DK Basu Guidelines and for publicly flogging Muslim men in Kheda district in October, 2022. 

The Bench of Justice AS Supehia and Justice Gita Gopi, however, stayed the order of sentence for three months, after the counsel of the accused sought time to file an appeal against the order.

The High Court expressed its displeasure over the order, stating that it was not happy to sentence the policemen in a case. It further imposed a fine of Rs 2000 each on the police officers, failing which they would have to undergo a further three-day imprisonment.

The Bench had framed contempt charges against Local Crime Branch Inspector A.V. Parmar, Sub-Inspector D.B. Kumavat, Head Constable Kanaksingh Laxman Singh and Constable Raju Rameshbhai Dabhi on October 4. 

On October 16, the victims refused to accept monetary compensation from the policemen. In July 2023, the High Court had directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Nadiad to analyse the pen drives and other electronic evidence, including videos related to the incident. 

The High Court had passed the order on a petition filed by five members of an affected family seeking contempt action against the accused. 

The contempt plea alleged that five victims were beaten up by policemen from Matar Police Station in Kheda district last year and hence, they had violated the Apex Court guidelines against custodial torture issued in the case of DK Basu vs State of West Bengal.

As per reports, Police had allegedly beaten five Muslim men last year following a communal clash in Undhela village at Matar Taluka of Kheda district. 

Some intruders reportedly pelted stones at the crowd during the Navratri celebrations, after which the police took action. The incident led to the arrest of more than 40 people.

The petitioners were represented by Senior Advocate I.H. Syed, while Senior Advocate Prakash Jani appeared for the police officers.

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