Indore Truck Rampage: MP High Court Seeks CCTV Footage From Entry Points; Keeps Status Report In Sealed Cover

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday (September 23) directed the state government to submit CCTV footage of cameras installed at the entry point of a residential area in Indore wherein a truck had reportedly entered during peak evening hours ploughing into several pedestrians resulting in the death of three persons. The court further directed its registry to keep the status report filed by the State in the matter in a sealed cover, noting that it contained sensitive material related to the investigation. These directions were passed in the suo motu proceedings, which were initiated after Dainik Bhaskar published a news article along with a video showing the incident. A truck reportedly entered the residential area of Indore from Kalani Nagar Square to Bada Ganpati Square, a stretch of about two kilometres, during peak traffic hours. The accident led to the death of three people, injuring 35 people and 12 with grievous injuries.In the previous hearing, the court had sought an explanation from the Commissioner of Police while summoning him to appear virtually. The court had also issued notice to the State Government and the Police Commissioner, directing respondents to file an affidavit demonstrating the measures being proposed to avoid recurrence of such incidents in the future.During the hearing today, the Commissioner of Police and the DCP of traffic appeared before the court. The counsel appearing for the State informed the court that since the investigation and chargesheet against the nine suspended officers are pending consideration, the affidavit has been divided into three parts. The first part contained the actual facts of the incidents, the second part detailed the action taken by the police department and the State Government, and the third part outlined the future course of action proposed by the State Government to ensure such an incident is not repeated. However, the counsel appearing for the State informed the court that the affidavit has not been filed in the registry because the investigation is ongoing and the chargesheet against the officers is yet to be issued. Therefore, the counsel for the State handed over the report directly to the bench. Regarding the CCTV footage of the incident, the bench directed the State to "file the CCTV footage of the cameras installed at the entry point where the offending truck had entered the said road". The division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf observed;"Status report has been filed. The same is taken on record. We are informed that the investigation, inter alia, into the conduct of certain police officers is underway, and the status report contains certain material that is sensitive to the investigation. Accordingly, the registry is directed to place the status report in a sealed cover and produce the same on every date of hearing till further orders. We also deem it appropriate to appoint Amicus Curiae to assist the court. List on October 10, 2025". Case Title: In Reference Suo Motu PIL v The State of Madhya Pradesh (WP no 37620 of 2025)

Indore Truck Rampage: MP High Court Seeks CCTV Footage From Entry Points; Keeps Status Report In Sealed Cover

Jayanti Pahwa

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