The Bombay High Court on Monday asked Maharashtra government what action it had taken against policemen who arrested two girls from nearby Palghar district for posting comments on Facebook against the bandh observed in Mumbai during Bal Thackeray’s funeral in November last year.
A bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka asked prosecutor Konde-Deshmukh to file by February 12 a reply on action taken by the state government in this case.
The court was hearing a petition filed by former journalist Ketan Tirodkar who prayed for a direction to the state via Home department to order appropriate penal action against the erring cops who made the arrests.
Arguing the petition in person, Mr. Tirodkar referred to a report in a newspaper which said that an inquiry into the arrests was made by Sukhwinder Singh, Inspector General of Police (Konkan region) and report submitted to the government.
The newspaper quoted the inquiry report saying three officials did not act in time to halt the arrests and opined that the case against the girls should be withdrawn. However, Mr. Singh’s report was too weak to be acted upon, the newspaper report said.
Moreover, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Home Minister R R Patil had divergent views on action to be taken against the erring police personnel, Mr. Tirodkar said quoting the newspaper report.
While the Chief Minister was of the opinion that action should be taken against police officials responsible for the arrests of the two girls, the Home Minister did not agree with this and expressed his view that no action should be taken against the cops, Mr. Tirodkar said.
This had resulted in delay in taking action against the erring police officials for arresting the girls although no offence had been made out against them, the petitioner said.
Keywords: Bal Thackeray death, Facebook comment, Social media, Police action, Palghar attacks, Social network
It is very clear that the Maharashtra Government has no intention of taking action against the cops who arrested the two girls.The delaying tactic was to see whether the HC would forget the incident which could then be given a quiet burial with everyone heaving a sigh.But then the Government didn't take into account that a journalist would not be quiet and would have the courage to rake up the issue by filing a petition.The Government with egg on its face is further embarrassed with news trickling out that the CM and his Deputy are at loggerheads.This is the right time for the HC to call the government to account for the delay.The Prosecutor should be hauled up to let the court know the position immediately failing which the HC should initiate Contempt proceedings against the Government.
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