Delhi Court Questions Police Negligence in 2007 Murder Case

New Delhi, July 10 (PTI) – In a significant move, a Delhi court has issued a notice to a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) regarding troubling deficiencies in the investigation of a 2007 murder case. Judicial Magistrate Bharti Beniwal emphasized that neglecting duties in a case involving the loss of human life is unacceptable, expressing dismay over the handling of the case involving a young man aged 30-35 who was discovered dead under dubious circumstances on July 30, 2007. Despite the suspicious nature of the death, no FIR was filed by the responsible police officials, the court highlighted. The post mortem report identified ligature marks around the neck and a severe head injury, strongly indicating homicide. Yet, remarkably, the local police took no action to initiate a case or investigation, the order stated. The judge noted, "The case exposes a deeply disturbing situation and underscores gross negligence by the police in addressing a serious murder case."

Witness statements revealed the victim, employed at Mohan Hotel, Ajmeri Gate, was murdered on its premises. Moreover, the body was reportedly moved to a nearby drain to conceal the crime. Despite having substantial evidence, including witness statements, post mortem results, and crime scene data, no FIR was ever filed by the then Station House Officer (SHO) or the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). Retired ACP Dinesh Kumar, who was the SHO of Kamla Market police station at the time, claimed that he encountered the inquest report while reviewing station records and then sought permission from the DCP, central district, to file an FIR. However, critical police records remain missing, and no investigatory steps were taken even after the FIR registration, suggesting procedural formality rather than intent to advance the case, the court observed. The actions of former police officials appeared "highly suspicious," with indications of willful inaction or deliberate attempts to protect offenders, raising the judge's concerns. Such negligence in a murder case is intolerable. The court requested the DCP central district to list all SHOs, investigative inspectors, and relevant ACPS from the victim’s death to the FIR registration.

A notice was also sent to the joint commissioner of police, central range, to address the issue, assign responsibility, and decide on necessary departmental and legal actions against the implicated officers. A compliance report is to be submitted within three weeks, and the police have been instructed to consider potential complicity or collusion among officers from the time. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on August 2.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)