Bhadra court acquits 7 police personnel including PSI in custodial death case

In the sensational 2013 custodial death case of accused Raju Thakkar, Bhadra Sessions Court in Ahmedabad has acquitted seven police personnel, including then PSI of Sardarnagar police station, Babubhai Ranchhodbhai Patel.

While delivering the verdict, Additional Sessions Judge M P Purohit observed that most of the witnesses in the case turned hostile and refused to identify the accused in court.

The judge also noted that medical evidence and the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) report did not establish the involvement of the accused. As a result, the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

The court further stated that there was insufficient and reliable evidence on record to prove charges such as murder and illegal detention against the accused police personnel. Therefore, all the accused were acquitted.

According to the case, in 2013, during the investigation of a house-breaking theft registered at Sardarnagar police station, a stolen mobile phone was traced to the name of Ashaben Rajubhai Thakkar.

Based on suspicion that the theft was committed by Raju alias Kranti Thakkar who had a prior record the police began searching for him.

On May 8, 2013, police received information that Raju Thakkar was gambling under the Sarangpur bridge. He was detained and taken to the Ajit Mill outpost of Bapunagar police station for questioning. 

It was alleged that he was illegally detained and subjected to severe beating to extract a confession, which led to his death. Subsequently, to destroy evidence, his body was allegedly thrown into the Sabarmati river.

In this case, a chargesheet was filed against eight accused, including PSI B R Patel. However, one accused, Ashokbhai Natwarlal Bhatt, died during the trial, and the case against him was abated.

During the trial, the defence argued that the accused were performing their official duties and that prior government sanction required under Section 197(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code had not been obtained for prosecution.

They also contended that most witnesses had turned hostile and there was no concrete evidence linking the accused to the crime. The case, they argued, was based only on circumstantial evidence.

The Sessions Court, citing lack of strong and conclusive evidence, granted the benefit of doubt and acquitted all seven police personnel.

Police personnel acquitted:

Babubhai Patel (PSI)

Bhadreshsinh Jadeja

Jagdishbhai Patel

Dharmendrasinh Rana

Mukeshkumar Patel

Kanjibhai Vihol

Dhirajbhai Desai