The Madhya Pradesh High Court has pulled up the state police for inaction over the vandalisation of a statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar in Seoni district more than two months ago, asking why no arrests have been made so far.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice S.K. Kait and Justice Vivek Jain, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), issued notices to the Seoni district collector, superintendent of police, the station house officer of Dhuma Police Station, and the state government, directing them to respond to the allegations raised.
“It is made clear that if action has already been taken, the affidavit shall be filed by the Station House Officer of Police Station, Dhuma, to that effect,” the bench said in its order, listing the matter for next hearing on May 7. The court directed that affidavits from the Superintendent of Police and the Station House Officer be filed explaining the delay or action taken, as applicable.
The PIL was filed by local resident Jitendra Ahirwar, who alleged that after the statue was desecrated on the night of February 10, the police merely registered an FIR against unknown persons but failed to make any arrests. Instead, the damaged statue was allegedly removed and replaced with a new one, without pursuing the culprits responsible for the vandalism.
Representing the petitioner, advocate Dinesh Upadhyay submitted that over two months had passed since the incident, yet no meaningful investigation had been conducted and not a single suspect had been apprehended.
The court has sought a detailed explanation from the concerned authorities but clarified that replies need not be on affidavit except for the police officials directly involved.
