Court in Madhya Pradesh clears suspects in murder trial, demands investigation into fabrication of testimony
Madhya Pradesh High Court Directs Strict Guidelines for Proper Investigations
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has taken a stern stance against the planting of false witnesses in a 2021 murder case, ordering the State Director General of Police (DGP) to issue strict guidelines for proper investigations and conduct a departmental inquiry against the Investigating Officer (IO) and other police personnel involved in the misconduct.
The case in question revolves around the murder of Rajendra, whose decomposed body was found with his private parts chopped off in September 2021. It was claimed that Rajendra was murdered because he was in a relationship with Nain Singh's daughter. However, the woman was not examined to establish the motive.
The High Court set aside the conviction of Nain Singh Dhruve and his son Sandeep Kumar Dhurve, who were arrested in connection with Rajendra's murder, due to incomplete chain of circumstances and implanted witnesses. The Court also opined that the postmortem doctor's conclusion that the death occurred 4-6 days before September 25, 2021, contradicted the claims of the prosecution witnesses who stated that Rajendra was in constant touch with the daughter of the accused between September 19-25.
Moreover, the High Court questioned the credibility of the prosecution's star witness, Chain Singh, who initially testified that he had stayed at Nain Singh's house and witnessed the accused beating up the deceased victim. However, during cross-examination, it was revealed that Chain Singh had gathered information about the incident after he was brought back from Kerala to Madhya Pradesh by the police.
The High Court's judgment emphasizes the need for honest, transparent, and independent investigations, avoiding shortcuts like planting witnesses to complete cases. It also stresses the importance of maintaining the integrity of investigations, including adherence to proper procedures such as forensic confirmations (e.g., DNA tests) and thorough examination of all relevant persons.
The DGP was ordered to formulate and enforce strict guidelines to uphold proper, honest investigation standards to prevent miscarriages of justice caused by fabricated witnesses or evidence. The departmental inquiry and report on the planting of witnesses were mandated within 30 days.
The exact text of the DGP's issued guidelines has not been detailed in the sources, but it is expected to focus on preventing planting or coaching of witnesses, complete and proper collection and verification of evidence, and accountability mechanisms within the police force for investigation malpractices.
The Court's judgment can be read for further details.
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The Madhya Pradesh High Court's judgment in the Rajendra murder case highlights the significance of honest and independent investigations in both general-news and crime-and-justice sectors, particularly in preventing the planting of false witnesses. The strict guidelines issued by the DGP are aimed at maintaining integrity in investigations and ensuring proper, honest investigations standards, thereby avoiding miscarriages of justice.
