Courts Criticize Police Inaction in 16-Year-Old Abduction Case
A local court in Ludhiana and the Punjab and Haryana High Court have issued strong rebukes against the city police for their failure to properly reinvestigate a 16-year-old abduction and attempted murder case involving Dr. Sumeet Sofat. The courts highlighted a decade of alleged inaction and potential attempts to shield influential suspects.
Judicial Orders Ignored by Police
Despite a clear judicial order issued in 2014 mandating a fresh probe into the case, the Ludhiana police have been accused of submitting a "verbatim reproduction" of a previously rejected cancellation report. Judicial Magistrate Karun Kumar noted that there was no evidence of any actual investigation conducted over the last ten years, leading to the rejection of the latest police filing.
High Court Describes "Sorry State of Affairs"
Simultaneously, the Punjab and Haryana High Court described the situation as a "sorry state of affairs" following a contempt petition filed by Dr. Sofat against 20 successive station house officers. Justice Vikram Aggarwal observed a potential attempt to shield the accused and has directed the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) to file a personal affidavit and a detailed status report within two weeks.
Courts Demand Full Transparency
In response to the prolonged delays and lack of progress, the courts are now demanding full case diaries and comprehensive witness statements to ensure an independent and thorough review of the long-stalled proceedings. This move aims to bring transparency and accountability to a case that has seen little advancement despite judicial intervention.
The courts' actions underscore growing concerns about police accountability and the effectiveness of judicial oversight in ensuring justice in long-pending cases. The involvement of multiple station house officers over the years has raised questions about systemic issues within the police force regarding high-profile investigations.
