The Gujarat High Court severely reprimanded the Ahmedabad Crime Branch and the city’s Ghatlodia Police for the misuse of power and torture inflicted on innocent citizens in a minor traffic violation case.

In a significant directive to senior police officials, the court has emphasised the need for strict vigilance over subordinates who harass citizens unnecessarily and attempt to establish dominance by resorting to violence.

During the hearing, Justice Nirzar S Desai questioned the legality of the Crime Branch officer’s action in stopping a citizen from driving on the wrong side, asserting that only traffic police can enforce traffic rules and regulations. The court ordered the Joint Police Commissioner of the Crime Branch to present CCTV footage regarding the allegations of torture in custody.

The court was informed that the CCTV footage backup in this case was only kept for one month, and efforts were being made to retrieve the footage from June 9, which led to the court's strong displeasure.

Guj HC slam police for arm-bending

Justice Desai, hearing this case, remarked, “Senior officers may be humble, but they should keep an eye on their subordinates who roam around the city, harassing people and trying to establish their dominance through unnecessary assaults. No police officer has the right to beat any citizen unnecessarily to satisfy their ego.”

Justice Desai also heavily criticised Ghatlodia police inspector (PI) V D Mori for creating a case favouring an Ahmedabad Crime Branch officer by citing anonymous witnesses. The court sternly warned the police, stating, “Is the officer investigating the case omniscient that he found four witnesses in 24 hours? If the police think they can outsmart the court, then the court will show them how to use its power.”

The Gujarat High Court, while quashing an FIR and related proceedings against the petitioners under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).

Later, a Crime Branch constable stated that both parties had settled, leading the High Court to dismiss the complaint in this case.

The High Court issued a severe warning to the police, stating, “You can use reasonable force against hardened criminals, but don’t look at every citizen with the same lens and use your power to entrap innocents.”

A traffic violation which severely escalated

This case pertains to an incident a few days ago when Crime Branch constable Janak Gor stopped two citizens for driving on the wrong side under Chandlodia Bridge and an altercation ensued.

Gor took both of them to the Crime Branch office and they were allegedly assaulted there. Moreover, 19 days after the incident, Ghatlodia police, at Gor’s behest, filed a complaint and produced anonymous witnesses the very next day.