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MSHRC Takes Notice After Paraded Accused On Police Vehicle Bonnets
The (MSHRC), Mumbai, has initiated a inquiry into allegations of extreme brutality by the . A full bench comprising Chairperson Justice A. M. Badar, Member Justice Swapna Joshi, and Member Sanjay Kumar has taken cognizance of video evidence depicting the public shaming of suspects. The Commission has issued notices to top-ranking police officials to address these severe violations of .
A Pattern of Public Humiliation
The case originated from widely circulated social media footage showing officers from the parading three young murder suspects. The accused were allegedly tied to the bonnet of a police vehicle, masked, and forced to kneel and walk through residential neighborhoods. The videos further suggest that officers permitted private individuals to assault the suspects while in custody. Furthermore, the Commission highlighted that police officers allegedly intimidated local students who witnessed the spectacle, showing a disregard for the .
Legal Analysis and Constitutional Violations
The MSHRC observed that the ’s conduct resembles medieval-style public shaming, which is in direct conflict with the enshrined in the . Referencing the landmark judgment, the Commission noted that the under includes the right to live with dignity. The Commission drew parallels to past incidents involving the forced parading of suspects, viewing the current incident as a potential imitation that undermines the state's governance. The alleged actions appear to violate multiple provisions, including the , and the , effectively branding suspects as guilty before the judicial process has concluded.
Key Observations from the Commission
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"If these stills from widely circulated video clips on social media platforms regarding misdeeds of if ultimately found to be correct, then it will certainly bring shame to otherwise well governed and well ruled State of Maharashtra."
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"The act of tying young suspects / accused to the bonnet of Police vehicle and parading them constitutes flagrant violation of constitutional rights, statutory protection and the fundamental tenets of ."
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"It implies that this officer has abetted or neglected or failed to protect human rights of persons under his jurisdiction."
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"The incident under inquiry is nothing but branding by the Police to the suspects as guilty in the public eye before determination of their guilt by following ."
Directives and Inquiry
The MSHRC has formally registered the complaint and directed the Chief Secretary of the and the Director General of Police to file regarding the incident. Notices were issued to the Commissioner of Police, Pune, Amitesh Kumar; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-II, Milind Mohite; and Senior Police Inspector Mansingh Patil to explain their roles or negligence in the matter.
A specialized fact-finding committee, led by Special Inspector General of Police Datta Karale, has been tasked with collecting evidence and submitting a report within one week. The Commission underscored that the continued service of the involved officers, despite the gravity of these allegations, warrants immediate investigation into the complicity of the department's top leadership. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on .
