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Karnataka HC comes down on police
Bangalore, Nov 11: Karnataka High Court today directed the police department to infuse `honest professionalism` into the investigating process leading up to the prosecution of criminal cases in the state.
Bangalore, Nov 11: Karnataka High Court today directed the police department to infuse "honest professionalism" into the investigating process leading up to the prosecution of criminal cases in the state.
Judges M F Saldanha and Justice K Ramanna, constituting a division bench, made the remarks while upholding orders of a trial court acquitting 18 persons in a case of mob burning a shop in 1994 in Bhadravathi.
The judges passed the orders on a criminal appeal filed by the state against orders of the trial court judgement.
According to the prosecution, a mob of 200 to 300 people on the night of August 21, 1994, had burnt down the grocery store owned by Mohammed Ibrahim for whom it was the only source of livelihood. After the incident, he had to virtually flee from Bhadravathi, as his and the lives of his family members were in danger and he was not available to appear as witness in the case relating to communal tension.
The police prosecuted 13 persons on the ground that they were the main participants in the incident but the trial court acquitted the accused on the ground that the evidence did not establish any overt act on their part with regard to the burning incident.
The judges, while confirming the acquittal, observed that there was a virtual failure of justice in this case only because of lack of incisive investigation which could easily have established who the culprits were.
The judges passed the orders on a criminal appeal filed by the state against orders of the trial court judgement.
According to the prosecution, a mob of 200 to 300 people on the night of August 21, 1994, had burnt down the grocery store owned by Mohammed Ibrahim for whom it was the only source of livelihood. After the incident, he had to virtually flee from Bhadravathi, as his and the lives of his family members were in danger and he was not available to appear as witness in the case relating to communal tension.
The police prosecuted 13 persons on the ground that they were the main participants in the incident but the trial court acquitted the accused on the ground that the evidence did not establish any overt act on their part with regard to the burning incident.
The judges, while confirming the acquittal, observed that there was a virtual failure of justice in this case only because of lack of incisive investigation which could easily have established who the culprits were.
Bureau Report