Why did it take court order to arrest absconding cops in MP custodial death case? Supreme Court slams CBI

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to explain why it did not arrest two police officers accused in the custodial death of a 25-year-old tribal youth in Madhya Pradesh before the Court passed orders [Hansura Bai & Another v. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors]..A Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan also asked the State government to inform it about the departmental action taken against the suspended officers."Why couldn’t you arrest them in all these days? This is not how a Supreme Court order is to be complied with. Because we said we will ask Chief Secretary to be present today, you have acted. You explain why this happened. We are not going to close the matter," the Court remarked. .In July 2024, the victim Deva Pardhi was allegedly tortured to death by police officials at Myana Police Station in Madhya Pradesh. His uncle, the sole eyewitness, was also brutally assaulted and allegedly implicated in multiple cases to undermine his testimony.In May this year, the Supreme Court found the local probe tainted, transferred the case to the CBI and ordered the arrest of the accused within a month. With no progress in over four months, the victim’s family turned to the Court again with a contempt of court plea, alleging willful disobedience of the Court’s May 15-order directing immediate arrest of the accused officers..On September 25, the Bench strongly criticised the State for continuing to pay salaries to the absconding inspectors and for delaying their suspension. It also raised concerns over the safety of the sole eyewitness, the deceased’s uncle, who is in judicial custody. Later, the Court was informed that officers have been suspended and their salaries stopped.A day later, the Court again censured the Madhya Pradesh government and the CBI for failing to arrest two police officers and gave them one last opportunity to comply with the directions of the Court. .Today, Additional Solicitor General Raja Thakare informed the Court that both the officers - Uttam Singh and Sanjeev Singh - have been arrested."We have complied and both of them are arrested. Uttam Singh was arrested in Indore, and Sanjeev Singh was taken into custody in Shivpuri on 5th October," the senior counsel said on behalf of the CBI.However, the Court said it wants an explanation on why the arrest took place only after filing of the contempt of court plea."We find that the arrest has been made pursuant to the stringent and strong remarks made by this Court. The fact remains that there has been non compliance of the directions of this court on 15.5.25 and it is only pursuant to the filing of this contempt petition that the arrest has taken place. In the circumstances, we direct the respondents to furnish an explanation as to why the arrests have been made on 27.9.25 and 5.10.25. We adjourn to 6th November for explanation," the Court ordered..Meanwhile, Advocate Payoshi Roy, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that after the victim died, the police filed seven cases against the eye witness. "In five, he has been granted bail. Two are still pending. The defects have been verified. It should be listed next week," the counsel added..Man picked up at haldi ceremony, tortured and killed in police custody: Supreme Court orders CBI probe.[Read Live Coverage]