Himachal Pradesh High Court rejects bail pleas of 6 cops accused of thrashing informant

Shimla, August 24

The HP High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail petitions of six police personnel accused of beating an informant and his wife at Nalagarh police station.

Justice Rakesh Kainthla rejected their bail pleas and observed, “In the present case, the petitioners are police officials. They were carrying out an investigation when they were seen in the CCTV camera footage thrashing the informant. The informant’s wife has made serious allegations on oath against the petitioners. The status report shows that the CCTV camera footage was deleted. The CCTV camera footage was the best evidence of the happenings inside the police station and its deletion shows that the evidence was being tampered with.”

Justice Kainthla said, “The fact that the petitioners had misused their positions to cause grievous hurt to the informant and simple hurt to his wife shows that they had taken law into their own hands. The fact that the CCTV camera footage was deleted supports the apprehension of the prosecution and the victims that the petitioners can tamper with the evidence if they are released on bail. Keeping in view the serious allegations levelled against the petitioners, their custodial interrogation is justified.”

A case was registered against the six personnel at Nalagarh police station These police officials are accused of torturing the informant and and his wife by using the third degree torture method during the remand, due to which the young man suffered a serious injury in an ear.

The couple alleged that they were physically and mentally tortured in police remand. The police had lodged an FIR against the six personnel on December 27, 2023, on the basis of a medical report and the orders of a Nalagarh Court. The proceedings are going on against the couple in a case of extortion and fake certificate.