The Maharashtra Government on Friday filed two investigation report in sealed cover in Palghar Mob Lynching Case before the Bombay High Court. The Court has adjourned the hearing on plea seeking CBI investigation for two weeks considering the fact that similar matter is pending before the Supreme Court.
In the Palghar Mob Lynching case, Maharashtra Special Inspector General of Police, Konkan Range and Special Inspector General of Police (Crime), C.I.D., M.S., Pune on Friday has filed the two investigation reports in sealed cover before the Bombay High Court.
The Court observed that “It appears that after registration of several FIRs regarding the alleged incident of lynching of three individuals, the local police having jurisdiction embarked on an investigation. The steps taken by the investigating officer are delineated in the report of the Special IGP”.
“However, considering the gravity of the matter, investigation was transferred and taken up by the Criminal Investigation Department. The steps taken during investigation so far, after transfer, find place in the subsequent report. We have perused the reports. Inter alia, it appears that departmental action has been taken by the State against some of the officers who, prima facie, might have erred,” said by the court.
The Division bench comprised of Chief Justice, Dipankar Datta and Justice S.S.Shinde heard the matter, whereby they mentioned that at this stage, neither do we consider it necessary to record the developments in regard to the investigation nor to furnish copies of the reports to the learned Advocates for the Petitioners.
“Also, keeping in mind the fact that the Hon’ble Supreme Court is seized of a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution wherein a prayer has been made for transferring the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is also the prayer in this clutch of petitions, we consider it prudent to adjourn the hearing for two weeks for the present and to await the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court on the pending petition,” mentioned by the court.
The bench directs the registry to re-sealed the reports so filed and kept in the safe custody of the Registrar General of the Court.
Therefore, the matter got adjourned and posted for 5th June.
The incident took place when two sadhus, Shri Sushil Giri Maharaj and Maharaj Kalpavrikshgiri along with their driver were going to attend last rites of spiritual Guru Ramgiri Maharaj in Surat, when they were stopped from taking National Highway due to Coronavirus lockdown. When their vehicle reached near Palghar, Maharashtra, they were taken into custody by Palghar Police and kept in Police Van.
At that time, a large mob stopped their vehicle and dragged the saffron-clad Sadhus out. Unruly mob armed with sticks and rods, attacked the Sadhus and brutally killed all of them in extremely barbaric manner.
Video clips of this incident later on surfaced in social as well as electronic media showing that the police didn’t even try to help the deceased persons. When sticks and rods were rained on the elderly sadhu Maharaj Kalpavrikshgiri, he clung to a uniformed cop for help. But the officer shrugged him allowing the mob to do what it was doing. In one video, Maharaj Kalpavrikshgiri begged the mob to spare him but his cries didn’t move them.
Read the order here;
palghar-mob-lynching-India Legal Bureau