Justices Demand Arrest of Two Fleeing Police Officers by October 7 or Face Contempt Proceedings
Published on: September 26, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Bhopal, India
The Supreme Court of India delivered a stern rebuke to the Madhya Pradesh government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 26, 2025, over the ongoing probe into the alleged custodial death of 25-year-old Deva Pardhi in July 2024. Justices highlighted the authorities’ “unpardonable” failure to apprehend two absconding police officers implicated in the case, granting a final deadline until October 7 for their arrest. Failure to comply could result in contempt charges, with the state’s Additional Chief Secretary and the CBI’s investigating officer required to appear in court the next day.
Deva Pardhi, a resident of Madhya Pradesh’s Harda district, was detained on suspicion of involvement in a robbery case. He died in custody under suspicious circumstances, with postmortem reports indicating severe injuries consistent with torture. The CBI took over the investigation following public outcry and allegations of police brutality. Despite identifying the two officers—Sub-Inspector Rajendra Gupta and Head Constable Vinod Uikey—as key accused, both have evaded capture for over a year, allegedly with local support.
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The bench, comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan, expressed frustration over repeated delays, noting that the case exemplifies systemic issues in custodial deaths across India. “The right to life under Article 21 is non-negotiable; no uniform justifies such barbarity,” Justice Gavai remarked during the hearing. Human rights activists, including those from Amnesty International India, have welcomed the order but urged faster action, pointing out that Madhya Pradesh reported 12 custodial deaths in 2024 alone, per National Crime Records Bureau data.
The Madhya Pradesh government has assured the court of deploying special teams, including interstate coordination with Rajasthan where one officer is believed to be hiding. This development comes amid broader national scrutiny on police reforms, with opposition leaders like Congress MP Rahul Gandhi linking it to “institutional failures” in law enforcement. Families of victims, including Deva’s widow, have renewed calls for a transparent inquiry and compensation, emphasizing the need for accountability to prevent future atrocities.
