[Custodial Death] Madhya Pradesh HC Directs Shifting Of Eye-Witness To Gwalior Central Jail After Allegations Of Harassment By Police

While hearing a case claiming police brutality inside jail premises, the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the shifting of a man to another jail, who is stated to be the "eye witness" to the alleged custodial death of another person, during the pendency of his case. A single-judge bench of Justice Milind Ramesh Phadke in his order observed, “Looking to the contentions raised on behalf of the petitioner regarding harassment of Gangu @ Gangaram of the hand of the police officials in and outside Central Jail, Guna prima facie it appears to this Court that Gangu @ Gangaram till further orders of this Court be transferred to some other jail, accordingly, he is directed to be shifted to Central Jail, Gwalior forthwith.” “Since the safety of Gangu @ Gangaram though an accused is also an eye witness to a custodial death, his safety is the duty of the jail authorities, therefore, Director General of Prisons and I.G. Prisons are directed to examine the matter and if they find any threat to Gangu @ Gangaram in Central Jail Gwalior, where he is being shifted on the orders of this Court, immediate action be taken against the erring officials, with an intimation to this Court,” it added. This Court is of the view that the investigation conducted by the CID should be monitored by the Superintendent of Police Guna and the Superintendent of Police Guna shall submit status reports to this Court.” Thereafter, the court directed to shift the accused to Central Jail, Gwalior as a measure to protect him from abuse in the hands of the police authorities.