SC seeks reason for delay in arrest of 2 MP police officers in Adivasi man’s alleged custodial death

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Madhya Pradesh government and the Central Bureau of Investigation to explain why it had delayed arresting two police officers accused in the alleged custodial torture and death of an Adivasi man, PTI reported.

In July 2024, ahead of his wedding, 25-year-old Deva Pardhi and his uncle Gangaram Pardhi were arrested on charges of theft. The family was later informed that Deva Pardhi had died in custody.

The police claimed Deva Pardhi had died of a heart attack, but the family alleged that both men were tortured in custody.

On September 26, the Supreme Court warned that it would initiate contempt proceedings against officials of the CBI and the Madhya Pradesh government if they failed to arrest the two police officers accused in Deva Pardhi’s death.

Appearing for the CBI on Wednesday, Additional Solicitor General Raja Thakare told the court that both the accused police officers – Uttam Singh Kushwaha and Sanjeev Singh – had been arrested, reported Bar and Bench.

While Kushwaha was arrested in Indore on September 27, Singh was taken into custody in Shivpuri on October 5.

A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan noted that an order issued by the court on May 15 had given the authorities a month to arrest the two men, but...

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