Serious probe lapses: Supreme Court tears into Uttar Pradesh Police
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sharply rebuked the Uttar Pradesh Police over alleged irregularities in handling a criminal investigation, questioning the credibility of the force after details in a motorcycle-related case were changed during the probe, Siasat reported.
A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva was hearing a petition alleging that the police had acted unfairly from the outset. According to the petitioner, the motorcycle rider was caught at the scene of the accident and handed over to the police, yet the FIR was registered against an unidentified person rather than naming the apprehended rider.
The bench questioned why the police had recorded the accused as unknown, even though the rider had allegedly been detained at the spot. The petitioner further alleged that the investigation changed after the High Court sought a status report. The rider, identified as Tushar, was subsequently named in the chargesheet before being cleared of the allegations.
Another issue raised before the court concerned the motorcycle itself. The petitioner alleged that the vehicle initially had no registration number but was later shown with a number plate during the investigation.
The Supreme Court expressed concern that such changes could seriously undermine public confidence in policing and the credibility of criminal investigations. It also criticised the affidavit filed by the UP Police, directing the concerned officer to appear at the next hearing with a more detailed explanation for the handling of the FIR.
The bench questioned how citizens could trust the police if investigations were conducted in such a manner. In particularly strong observations, the court said it could consider asking the Central Bureau of Investigation to handle investigations instead, and even suggested that the state police force might as well be disbanded if such conduct continued.
The court also criticised what it perceived as attempts to accommodate or shield individuals during investigations, calling for an end to such practices.