Palghar Lynching Case: Supreme Court Issues Notice In Plea For CBI Probe

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Maharashtra government, the Director-General of Police of the state, the Union government, National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a petition related to the Palghar lynching case. The plea sought a CBI probe into the Palghar lynching case in which two Sadhus were brutally killed by a mob in Maharashtra in April this year.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan, Justice MR Shah and Justice V Ramasubramanian heard the petitioners who were relatives of the two deceased Sadhus. The petitioners claimed that the Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID) could not conduct a free and impartial enquiry into the case which was entrusted to it.

The plea before the Supreme Court further says that in the light of the fact that the police concerned might have had an active role in the lynching case, the CID which comprises members from the police force may not be able to conduct and conclude an impartial investigation without giving rise to questions about its credibility and dispassionate approach. The plea hinted that the probe by the Maharashtra CID would always be clouded by the suspicion of bias.

The petition questioned the passive behaviour of the Maharashtra police stating that the two Sadhus and their driver were travelling to attend the funeral of another priest and had the necessary passes to travel during the lockdown period. They were intercepted by a crowd of about 150-200 people and policemen were present when they were attacked, it says.

The apex court bench also heard a related plea seeking a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the same case.