The Bombay High Court has pulled up the Mumbai Police for their “lackadaisical approach” in investigating a three-year-old hit-and-run case, observing that the authorities had fallen short of the standards expected by citizens.
A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad, in its September 3 order, said the probe had been “grossly callous” and only gathered pace after the court intervened. The case concerns the death of a 20-year-old man, who was fatally struck by a speeding truck while riding his scooter in Malad on August 17, 2022.
The victim’s mother had approached the High Court alleging inaction on the part of the police, stating that neither the truck nor the driver had been traced. In October 2023, the police filed an “A Summary” report—indicating they were unable to identify the accused—before a local court.
However, following the High Court’s intervention, the police reopened the case and arrested the driver last month. A chargesheet has since been filed. The bench noted that this progress came only after the court “cautioned the police of possible consequences.”
“The lackadaisical approach adopted over the last several years is seriously depreciable,” the court said, stressing that the investigation officer’s conduct was “shocking and deserves condemnation.” The bench directed the Director General of Police to initiate a departmental inquiry against the officer concerned for dereliction of duty and faulty investigation.
The High Court further ordered that the trial be expedited and concluded within a year, underlining the need for accountability in cases where justice has already been delayed.
