SC turns down monitoring of Uttam Nagar Holi lynching probe
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea for a court-monitored investigation into a youth's death during Holi in Delhi's Uttam Nagar, directing the petitioner to first approach police.
A bench led by CJI Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, granted liberty to file a detailed representation with Delhi Police Commissioner. It noted protections for the victim's family and other reliefs belong with authorities first.
"Delhi Police is a professional force, why demoralise them?" the bench remarked.
If unresolved, the petitioner can escalate to Delhi High Court. The plea labeled 26-year-old Tarun Kumar's death "mob lynching," seeking security, Rs 5 crore compensation, and a probe monitored by court—citing the Tehseen Poonawalla judgment on lynching.
Police say a water balloon dispute on Holi sparked clashes between groups in Uttam Nagar. Reinforcements escalated violence; Kumar, heading home, was attacked near his residence with rods, sticks, bricks, and stones. He suffered fatal head injuries and died in hospital.
The National Human Rights Commission took suo motu notice, issuing alerts to West Delhi DM and Police Commissioner. It flagged potential human rights violations, demanding a thorough probe, prosecution of all accused, threat assessment for Kumar's family, evidence preservation (CCTV, social media, forensics), and a report in two weeks.
(Inputs from IANS)