'We Will Not Let It Go': Delhi HC Says It May Direct CBI to Probe Cases of Alleged Detention of Activists
New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Thursday (April 23) warned the Delhi Police and said that it may direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe cases pertaining to alleged torture and illegal detention of various activists including students by officials of the Special Cell last month, reported LiveLaw.
A division bench comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja that the Delhi Police should either tell Court that action is taken or it will take action.
“I think it is enough. We will not let it go. We might refer the investigation to the CBI now. You are forcing us to do that. We will say we cannot trust you with the investigation,” the Court remarked.
After perusing the status reports filed by the Delhi Police in a sealed cover about CCTV cameras in the Special Cell office, the Court said that it will say that the allegations raised were serious and ask the CBI to investigate the matter. The court added that the conduct of the Delhi Police so far “does not inspire confidence.”
The court said that if the Police had “some material” to suspect the activists, then there is a legal procedure which has to be followed.
It remarked that if such legal procedure was not followed, it will order the police commissioner to conduct an inquiry against the erring officials.
“The Constitution [of India] states the procedure prescribed by law, we want to see the procedure followed,” said the court.
The court made the observations while hearing a batch of habeas corpus petitions filed by the activists who were detained.
Additional standing counsel (Criminal) Sanjeev Bhandari, who appeared as counsel for the Delhi police, submitted that the allegations of torture and giving threats to the activists were false.
Bhandari added that the case is being taken seriously and if required, an inquiry will be done on a superior level. The Delhi Police also said that it is “actively investigating” the 13 activists for allegedly supporting maoist/ naxalite ideologies, reported LiveLaw.
The Court directed the Delhi Police to bring the entire case file on record which will be perused on the next date of hearing.
Last month, the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) had released a press note alleging that several individuals including two labour rights activists, two anti-displacement activists and six students had been abducted by authorities in plainclothes and remained untraceable with none of them contacting their friends, family members or colleagues.
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