Rajasthan police starts probe against its cops after Delhi HC slams arrest of minors from capital without informing Delhi Police

The Rajasthan Police informed the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that it has initiated an investigation into how its cops arrested two minors from Delhi without informing the local police. 

Ajmer Superintendent of Police (SP) Vandita Rana appeared before a Bench of Justices Jyoti Singh and Anish Dayal today and stated that a departmental probe has been initiated against the erring officials and procedural lapses are also being investigated. 

The Court was hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by the mother of one of the persons arrested by the Rajasthan Police.

The Delhi High Court had on Tuesday (September 30) slammed the Rajasthan Police for arresting the two minors without informing their parents or the local police. 

While the Rajasthan Police claimed that the individuals were not minors, the Court had questioned them about how individuals can be taken into custody without informing the Delhi Police.

The Court had also expressed concerns that the two boys arrested are stated to be related to Deva Pardhi, a tribal man who was killed in Madhya Pradesh police’s custody last year due to alleged brutality.

The High Court also noted that on September 26, the Supreme Court had strongly reprimanded the Madhya Pradesh government and the CBI for failing to arrest the two police officers in connection with the death of Deva Pradhi.

After hearing the Ajmer SP's submissions today, the High Court said that the matter requires examination, especially with respect to the inter-state arrest of the two Delhi residents. 

“Having given our thoughtful consideration to the respective submissions of the parties and on perusal of the Status Reports filed by the Delhi Police as also the Rajasthan Police, we are of the view that issues raised by the Petitioner, more particularly, with respect to inter-State arrest, illegal apprehension and detention need consideration,” the Court said.

Therefore, the Court directed the State of Rajasthan to file an updated status report along with copy of the inquiry report against the erring cops. 

Delhi Police was also ordered to produce the CCTV footage regarding the arrest in a sealed cover before the Court. 

The case will be heard next on October 8.

Advocates Archit Krishna, Maheshwari Mawase and Himanshu Kunjam appeared for petitioner Kapoori Bai. 

Standing Counsel (Criminal) Sanjay Lao and advocate Priyam Aggarwal appeared for the State of Delhi.

Advocates Saurabh Rajpal and Shalini Singh represented the State of Rajasthan.

[Read Order]