The Delhi High Court asked, “‘Do you know the law?’” while slamming Rajasthan Police for arresting minors without informing Delhi Police. It said such actions violated legal jurisdiction and raised serious concerns over procedural lapses and accountability in law enforcement.
The Delhi High Court criticized the Rajasthan Police for arresting two minors in Delhi without notifying their parents or the local authorities.
A Division Bench comprising Justices Jyoti Singh and Anish Dayal raised concerns about the two boys, who are reportedly related to Deva Pardhi, a tribal individual who died in police custody in Madhya Pradesh last year due to alleged police brutality.
The court also pointed out that on September 26, the Supreme Court had sternly admonished the Madhya Pradesh government and the CBI for their failure to apprehend the two police officers involved in Pardhi’s death.
Notably, the minors were arrested by the Rajasthan Police the very next day, September 27.
The Court questioned,
“Hamare jurisdiction se aap le kaise gaye? Aapko kanoon nahi pata? Aap le gaye kaise gaye Delhi police ko inform kiye bina? Aapka maamla Supreme Court bheje (How can you [Rajasthan Police] take them away from our jurisdiction? Do you know the law? How could you take them away without informing the Delhi Police? Should we send your case to the Supreme Court?),”
The High Court was addressing a petition filed by Kapoori Bai, the mother of one of the arrested minors.
Vikram Singh Rathore, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Pushkar, appeared before the court and confirmed that while the two individuals were in custody, they are not minors.
Delhi government’s Standing Counsel (Criminal) Sanjay Lao acknowledged that the arrests of the two minors occurred without the knowledge of the Delhi Police.
In response to the court’s direct inquiry, Inspector Rathore admitted that his team had failed to inform the Delhi Police.
After reviewing the case and considering the sensitivity surrounding the minors’ connection to Pardhi, the court instructed the standing counsel for Rajasthan and the Superintendent of Police of Ajmer to submit a status report.
The Court directed,
“Looking at the backdrop of the matter as also the sensitivity involved, considering that S and the Petitioner are relatives of Deva Pardhi, it is directed that the status report will be filed under the signatures of Ms Vandita Rana, SP, Ajmer, Rajasthan. The status report will be filed during the course of the day with a copy to counsel for the Petitioner. It is further directed that Mr. Rathore will keep SHO, PS: Hari Nagar updated on the status of the case during the course of the day,”
Advocates Archit Krishna, Maheshwari Mawase, and Himanshu Kunjam represented petitioner Kapoori Bai, while Standing Counsel (Criminal) Sanjay Lao and advocate Priyam Aggarwal appeared for the Delhi government.
Case Title: Kapoori Bai v. State of NCT of Delhi & Ors
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