Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has strongly criticized the Mumbai Police for what it termed a “grossly callous” investigation into the 2022 Malad hit-and-run case. The court noted that the probe into the death of a 20-year-old youth showed a lack of diligence and fell short of the standards expected by citizens.
A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad observed that the investigation only gained momentum after judicial intervention, despite repeated pleas from the victim’s family.
Probe Moved Only After Court’s Intervention
The case arose from a petition filed by Babita Pawan Jha, mother of the victim, who alleged police inaction in tracing the truck and its driver. Her son was killed on August 17, 2022, when a speeding truck hit his scooter in suburban Malad.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, Malad police filed an “A Summary” report in October 2023, claiming they were unable to identify the accused. Dissatisfied with the outcome, the mother approached the High Court, which led to the reopening of the case.
Accused Traced and Arrested After Court Pressure
Following repeated directions from the bench, police finally traced and arrested the truck driver in August this year. A chargesheet was subsequently filed. The Court, however, condemned the earlier conduct of the investigating officers, stressing that vital steps should have been taken much earlier.
The bench remarked: “A young man lost his life in a hit-and-run accident on August 17, 2022, yet it has taken three years for the police to trace the accused and file a chargesheet.”
Investigating Agency’s Conduct Criticized
The judges described the police approach as “seriously depreciable,” stating that effective steps were taken only after the court cautioned the authorities of possible consequences. “The lackadaisical approach adopted over the last several years is seriously depreciable. The police authorities have fallen short of the standards expected by citizens,” the bench observed.
Departmental Action Ordered
The Court also criticized the investigating officer personally. “His conduct has been nothing short of shocking and deserves condemnation,” the bench said, directing the Director General of Police to initiate a departmental inquiry for dereliction of duty and faulty investigation.
Additionally, the Court directed the trial court to expedite proceedings and conclude the trial within one year.
