'Have Some Faith': Delhi High Court Declines CBI Probe For Now; Notes Inquiry Initiated Against Cops Over Alleged Torture Of Student Activists

The Delhi High Court has been informed that inquiry has been initiated against erring officials of Delhi Police's Special Cell over allegations of torture and illegal detention of various activists, including students, in March.

A division bench comprising Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja perused the status report filed by the Delhi Police revealing the said information.

The Court noted that looking at the facts and circumstances, the Commissioner of Delhi Police has designated Joint Commissioner of Police, Southern Range, to conduct an inquiry.

The Court also noted that certain proceedings have been undertaken by Joint CP after initiation of inquiry.

The Court was hearing a batch of habeas corpus petitions filed by the activists. Earlier, the Court had orally asked the Delhi Police to follow procedure prescribed in law during the investigation.

Today, Delhi Police counsel, Additional Standing Counsel (Criminal) Sanjeev Bhandari submitted that inquiry has been initiated and that the same must be allowed to be concluded. He said that the details will be placed on record before the Court.

As Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves appearing for one of the petitioners insisted that a CBI inquiry must be ordered, the Court said that some faith must be shown on the office designated to conduct the inquiry.

“Have some faith in the functionary. If we start doing it at initial stage… if you say that I don't like anyone then why CBI also? It is an agency. See then tomorrow you will say supposing there are allegations against a judge, you will say SC shouldn't do it because it is the same agency,” the Court remarked.

Accordingly, the Court adjourned the matters to July 13.

In previous hearing, the Court had warned the Delhi Police of conducting a CBI probe. Although Bhandari had refuted the allegations of torture, he had said that the case is being taken seriously and that an inquiry, if required, will be done on a superior level.

In its response, the Delhi Police has said that it is “actively investigating” the 13 activists for allegedly supporting maoist/ naxalite ideologies.

Title: Sagrika Rajora v. State & Other Connected Matters