Palghar Lynching: 18 police officers punished, Maharashtra Police tells Supreme Court

The Maharashtra Police has informed the Supreme Court that 18 police officers have been punished after a departmental inquiry was initiated into the Palghar lynching incident..Palghar lynching case: Supreme Court asks Mumbai Police to place chargesheets on record, seeks report on investigation.The affidavit filed by the State of Maharashtra today is the latest of three filings before the Apex Court in reply to petitions seeking a probe into the lynching of Sadhus at Palghar earlier this year..Breaking: Supreme Court issues notice in pleas seeking CBI, NIA probe into Palghar Lynching case.The State Police has informed the Court that while one Assistant Police Inspector has been dismissed, another Assistant Police Sub-Inspector and one driver were compulsorily retired..Further, the affidavit states that pay has been reduced to minimum for one Sub-Inspector, a Head Constable & another 13 Constables..The affidavit reiterates that no further probe by a central agency would be needed, as the Maharashtra Police itself has imposed punishment on the erring officers..The lynching incident took place on the night of April 16 in the Palghar district of Maharashtra, when two ascetics were travelling along with a driver to Gujarat in order to attend a funeral..Supreme Court seeks status report from Maharashtra in plea seeking court-monitored probe into Palghar lynching incident.The aforesaid three individuals were lynched by a mob who allegedly suspected them to be child kidnappers after they reached Gadchinchale village in Dahanu taluka. Reportedly, a group of 4 policemen reached the spot after the Kasa Police Station received phone calls..On August 6, the Supreme Court asked the Maharashtra government to produce the chargesheets filed so far in the case within three weeks.A Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and R Subhash Reddy expressed their intent to examine the chargesheet, and directed the police to file an affidavit about the action taken against the policemen allegedly involved in the incident..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.