The Madhya Pradesh High Court has taken a strong stance on a case involving a missing file. A division bench issued clear directives to the Director General of the Special Police Establishment, Lokayukta.
Court Directs Immediate Action
The bench ordered the DG to lodge a First Information Report about the missing file. This file pertains to alleged corruption by a Public Works Department employee. The court did not stop there.
It further instructed the DG to initiate a departmental inquiry against a retired police officer. This officer misplaced the crucial file. The court emphasized this inquiry must happen before the officer attains immunity. Such immunity typically comes four years after retirement.
Background of the Case
The case revolves around PWD employee Anil Kumar Pathak. The SPE, Lokayukta, had registered a case against him. However, the file related to his case went missing from the SPE's custody.
Following this loss, the SPE moved an application in the trial court. They sought to accept Pathak's voice sample as evidence. The trial court accepted this application. This decision prompted Pathak to file a revision petition before the High Court.
Hearing Reveals Details
During the hearing, Superintendent of Police Anjulata Patel provided information. She stated an inquiry was conducted to trace the missing file. The inquiry revealed Inspector Oscar Kindo admitted to losing the file. He was the in-charge DSP at the relevant time.
The bench, comprising Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Vinay Saraf, then posed critical questions. They asked why an FIR was not registered for the missing file. They also questioned the absence of a departmental inquiry against the concerned officer.
The court's order now mandates both these actions. It underscores the importance of accountability and proper handling of official documents, especially in corruption cases.
