The Bombay High Court (HC) has criticised the Maharashtra and Mumbai police for not investigating crimes against women and children promptly. This inaction has resulted in many acquittals and given an advantage to the perpetrator. The court expressed concern over these investigations, calling them insensitive and inadequate.
The court summoned the State Advocate General, Birendra Saraf, to answer why so many cases were being mishandled. Court also mentioned that they handle multiple cases every day involving poorly conducted investigations. According to the court, out of 100 cases, around 80 had incorrect investigations.
The bench, led by Justices Ajey Gadkari and Neela Gokhale, stated that the entire system needed change. They expressed frustration, asking, "Where should the women go if this is the current state of affairs?"
The court viewed the police’s failure as particularly harmful for women.
Saraf assured the court that necessary action would be taken. However, the bench was not satisfied, stating that the system needed serious reforms. The bench pointed out that Maharashtra should be the safest place for girls, but recent events revealed serious issues.
Saraf had been summoned because of five specific cases where the investigation was found lacking. The court mentioned that in one case, they had requested affidavits from a senior police inspector, ACP, DCP, Additional CP, and the police commissioner. They later called for affidavits from the State Additional Chief Secretary but were unsatisfied.
In one case, the accused had torn a woman’s clothes in a market. The police had failed to take her torn clothes as evidence. They had used the excuse that she did not have extra clothes to wear, which the court found unacceptable.
The court also heard the case of a medical student being stalked by her ex-boyfriend. The ex-boyfriend had posted offensive pictures of her online. The court was concerned that the woman had been forced to stay home because of fear. They questioned the police's handling of her case.
The court was further angered by the fact that a constable was assigned to investigate a case. The accused had gained an advantage. The bench noted that neglect led to such failures. They noted that constables received cases from senior officers, and sometimes it appeared that officers were more interested in helping the accused than performing their duties.
The bench said that the state was not serious enough about such cases. The police are the first point of contact in times of crisis. If the police act carelessly, the public has nowhere else to turn.
In some cases, defendants had withdrawn their pleas and requested the dismissal of charges brought against them. After hearing these cases, the court demanded reforms. The police assured the court that they would provide security to the medical student so she could leave her home and attend her exams.
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