In a significant ruling on May 15, 2025, the Supreme Court transferred the investigation into the custodial death of Deva Pardhi to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), after finding serious lapses, brutality, and possible shielding of accused police officials by the local police. The bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta noted that Deva Pardhi was picked up during his Haldi ceremony, subjected to severe torture, and later died in custody.
Background of the Incident
The events stem from FIR No. 232 of 2024 registered on 3rd June 2024 at Myana Police Station, Madhya Pradesh, relating to a theft and house-trespass complaint. Deva Pardhi, whose marriage was scheduled for 14th July 2024, was celebrating his Haldi ritual on 13th July when 30–40 police officers arrived at the venue.
According to the appellants, who are Deva Pardhi’s mother and aunt, a police team in multiple vehicles entered the house between 4:00–4:30 PM, forcibly detained Deva and his uncle Gangaram Pardhi, and physically assaulted them. The family, including women and children, were also manhandled when they tried to intervene. Both men were taken to Jhagar Chowki and allegedly kept in an older station building that lacked CCTV surveillance.
Allegations of Torture
In chilling detail, the appellants claimed that Deva Pardhi was subjected to third-degree torture including being hung upside down, doused with water to induce suffocation, and beaten severely with salt and hot water applied to his wounds. Despite repeated pleas, the police allegedly continued to assault him. When Deva became unresponsive, he was moved to another room and later taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead.
Aftermath and FIRs
Gangaram Pardhi was produced before a Magistrate only on 15th July, after more than 24 hours of alleged illegal detention, and was sent to Guna district jail. Shockingly, FIR No. 247 of 2024 was then registered by a police officer involved in the incident against Gangaram’s entire family under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Although a magisterial inquiry was eventually conducted and FIR No. 341 of 2024 was registered under BNS Sections 105, 115(2), and 3(5) against the Town Inspector and other officers, no arrests were made even after eight months. Additional charges under Section 120 BNS and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were added based on witness statements.
Supreme Court’s Observations
The Court expressed grave concern over the conduct of the local police and the absence of any credible progress in the investigation:
“Despite taking note of the large number of the injuries on the body of Deva Pardhi, the victim of custodial torture, the members of the Medical Board… failed to express any opinion regarding the cause of his death. This omission seems to be deliberate…”
The bench held that:
“We are convinced that this is a classic case warranting invocation of the Latin maxim ‘nemo judex in causa sua’… The allegation of causing custodial death… is against the local police officials… The investigation is not being carried out in a fair and transparent manner.”
Directions Issued
The Court directed:
- CBI to take over FIR No. 341 of 2024 immediately.
- Arrest of responsible police officers within one month.
- Completion of investigation within 90 days from the date of arrest.
- Gangaram Pardhi may approach the High Court for bail in all criminal cases lodged after 13th July 2024.
- The State Government is directed to provide protection to Gangaram Pardhi under the Witness Protection Scheme.
The Court noted that there appeared to be a pattern of implicating Gangaram in multiple false cases to break his spirit and silence the only eyewitness to the custodial killing:
“A deliberate attempt is being made… to keep him behind bars indefinitely… to prevent him from deposing against the errant police officials.”
