Supreme Court lashes out at CBI, asks, ‘Where were the policemen accused of Dalit youth’s death hiding for four months?’

Supreme Court strict on delay in arrest of accused policemen, asks CBI – why this negligence?

Published on: 09 Oct 2025, 3:40 pm

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought an explanation from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for the delay of over four months in arresting two Madhya Pradesh police officers involved in the alleged custodial death of a 26-year-old Dalit youth.

A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan also directed the state government to place before the court the details of departmental action taken against the two policemen, identified as Sanjeev Singh Mavai and Uttam Singh Kushwaha.

The apex court noted that the policemen were not arrested despite a clear direction dated May 15. The agency swung into action only after the court threatened to summon the Chief Secretary.

Justice Nagarathna said, “Why couldn’t you arrest him all these days? This is not how the Supreme Court order is followed. You took action because we said we would ask the Chief Secretary to appear today. You explain why this happened. We are not going to close this case.”

He further said, “You also have to tell what happened to the departmental action? What procedure needs to be followed now? Despite the Supreme Court ordering his arrest, he filed a petition for anticipatory bail. This in itself is contempt of court.”

Earlier, on September 23, the Supreme Court had reprimanded the CBI for its failure to arrest the policemen involved in the custodial death of Deva Pardhi at the Myana police station on July 14. The bench had then said, “This cannot go on like this. Despite the Supreme Court’s order, you are unable to take action. So what’s the point? You are feigning helplessness! … Please don’t feign helplessness.”

The bench had also warned, “If anything happens to the sole witness and any other incident occurs in custody, we will not spare you.”

During Wednesday’s hearing, Additional Solicitor-General Raja Thackeray, appearing for the CBI, informed the court that both policemen had been arrested. “Uttam Singh was arrested from Indore on September 27, while Sanjeev Singh was taken into custody from Shivpuri on October 5. They are currently lodged in Indore jail,” he said.

However, the bench noted that these arrests were made “following the strong observations made by this court.” In its order, the bench said, “In these circumstances, we direct the concerned respondent (CBI) to file an explanation as to why there was a failure to comply with the order of this court dated May 15, 2025, and why the said officers were arrested only on September 27, 2025, and October 5, 2025. The respondent-State (Madhya Pradesh government) may also inform as to what further departmental action has been taken against these officers.”

The next hearing on this matter will be on November 6.