In a stern admonition that reverberated through the halls of justice, the Bombay High Court lambasted the police for their handling of a grave attempt to murder and dacoity case in Badlapur, Thane district. Justice A S Gadkari and Justice Neela Gokhale, overseeing the matter, did not mince words as they described the police’s approach as a “mockery of the criminal justice system.”
The case, which involved a violent attack on a man and his mother using a sword and an iron rod, saw the accused attempting to circumvent legal proceedings by proposing a settlement. This led to the police curtailing their investigation—an action that drew significant ire from the court during a hearing on August 23.
“It is a settled position of law that offences under sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 397 (dacoity) are serious, impacting society at large and thus warrant thorough investigation,” remarked the bench. The justices emphasized that such crimes cannot be resolved through private settlements and required diligent pursuit by law enforcement.
Expressing disbelief, the court highlighted the lackadaisical and lethargic conduct of the investigating officers involved, accusing them of being “silent spectators” rather than upholders of justice. “The integrity of the police is called into question by such actions,” the court declared.
Adding to the gravity of their observations, the justices pointed out the possible undue influence or pressure exerted by the accused over the police. This concern prompted them to escalate the matter, calling for direct intervention from the Commissioner of Police, Thane. The commissioner has been ordered to submit a detailed affidavit addressing these criticisms by September 13, the date set for further hearing.
