Supreme Court Orders SIT Probe Into Unnatural Death Of Scheduled Caste Youth In Madhya Pradesh
The Supreme Court on Thursday (December 11) directed the investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the case related to the unnatural death of a Scheduled Caste youth named Nilesh Adivasi in Madhya Pradesh in July 2025.
The Court directed the Director General of Police of Madhya Pradesh to constitute a 3-member SIT, to be headed by an IPS officer in the rank of SP who belongs to the MP cadre but has no roots in the State. The other members of the SIT must be a young IPS officer, who also does not belong to MP, and a woman officer in the rank of DySP.
The SIT has been asked to complete the investigaiton within one month. The FIR was registered on the complaint of the wife of the deceased on September 4, 2025, at Malthon Police Station for the offences under Section 108 (abetement of suicide), BNS and Section 3(2)(i)(v) of the SC/ST Act.
The Court also stayed the arrest of Govind Singh Rajput, the accused in the case, as an interim measure. However, the SIT can approach the Supreme Court seeking leave for his custodial interrogation if any incriminating material of grave nature is found.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order in a petition filed by Govind Singh Rajput challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court's refusal to grant him anticipatory bail. The bench noted that there are conflicting versions given by the wife and the brother of the deceased. As per the wife, the harassment by the former Home Minister of the State and his associates led to the suicide of the victim. However, as per the brother, the present petitioner (Govind Singh Rajput) and his associates are responsible.
"The ultimate issue is whether the victim committed suicide, whether he was forced to commit suicide, or whether it was murder..." CJI Surya Kant observed at the outset, noting the conflicting versions regarding the incident.
The counsel appearing for Neeraj Adivasi, the brother of the victim, submitted that Rajput had hurled derogatory words at Adivasi, following which an FIR was registered against Rajput. After that, the victim was abducted, and videos surfaced which showed him sitting on the ground and bleeding in a hotel room.
Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, for Rajput, submitted that the FIR was lodged at the instance of the wife and that the brother was a complete stranger.
"The problem is that you are an influential politician of the area, that gives a possibility of you influencing the case," CJI said. Singh said that the petitioner was not 'Govind Singh Rajput' the MLA, and was another person having the same name. The commonality of the name is creating confusion as there are two 'Govind Singh Rajputs', he added. There is another Govind Singh Rajput who is currently a State Minister "I am not an MLA. I am a sympathiser of a political party but not an MLA. Other Govind Singh Rajput is an MLA," Singh said.
"There is something wrong with the investigation in the FIR. Any serious objection if we constitute an SIT?" CJI asked. Singh replied that he has no objection. He added that the investigation in an SC/ST Act case must be carried out by a DySP whereas here the investigation was done by a Sub Inspector.
The counsel for the brother of the victim also clarified that the petitioner was not an MLA and that the case is not against any MLA. He, however, added that the accused was powerful and was trying to influence and intimidate the family.
The bench disposed of the petition with the following order :
“It seems that the allegations made by the wife of the deceased are to the effect that he committed suicide due to the torture and harassment caused to him by a former home minister of the State and his associate...The wife of the deceased had filed a case seeking registration of FIR against the former home minister, but no cognisance was taken. She then filed a second complaint and also approached the High Court...The brother of the deceased, Neeraj Adivasi, seems to have a different version. In his very first statement, which is claimed to be recorded by the police, he has attributed allegations to Govind Singh Rajput (who is the petitioner) and some other person being responsible for the unnatural death of his brother. There are distinct and contradictory versions coming from the close family members of the deceased with respect to the cause of his death. Unfortunately, the writ petition filed by the wife of the deceased is still pending before the High Court.
Be that as it may, the facts and circumstances of the case undoubtedly warrant a fair and impartial investigation into the cause of death of Nilesh Adivasi. It seems to us that the local police has not been able to take the investigation to a logical conclusion. The further delay will be detrimental to the interests of the victim's family.
Taking these factors in view and knowing full well that the hands of the CBI are already full and transfer of the investigation to it might cause inordinate and undesirable delay, we, in exercise of powers under Article 142, expand the scope of these proceedings.
The Director General of Police is directed to constitute a Special Investigation Team comprising three police officers. The head of the SIT shall be an IPS officer of MP Cadre but having no roots in the State of MP and in the rank of SP. The second member of the SIT will also be a young IPS officer who should also not have roots in MP. The third of the member may preferably be a woman officer in the rank of DySP. The DGP can constitute the SIT within two days. The SIT is directed to take over the complete record and connected FIRs and immediately commence the investigation.
In light of different versions which have emerged on the record of this Court, we direct that the arrest of the petitioner shall be stayed as an interim measure subject to him furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional CJM. If the SIT finds incriminating material of grave nature, the SIT shall be at liberty to seek leave of this Court for custodial interrogation. The SIT will look into both the versions that have emerged from the family side of the deceased. The SIT shall also consider other possibilities that might have led to the unfortunate death of the victim. The SIT shall complete the investigation preferably within a period of one month"
The Court also directed the SIT to ensure the protection of Rewa Adivasi, the victim's wife, and Neeraj Adivasi, and to ensure that the witnesses are not intimidated or influenced by anyone.
Case : GOVIND SINGH RAJPUT v. THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH | SLP(Crl) No. 19960/2025