37 years after cop ‘threatened UP judge like a goon’, Allahabad HC seeks DGP’s reply: ‘Is he still alive? What action was taken?’
Allahabad HC was hearing an appeal in a murder case when it took cognizance of two paras in trial court's judgment
The Allahabad High Court Bench of Justice JJ Munir and Justice Sanjiv Kumar took cognizance of two paragraphs in the sessions court judgment where the judge LN Rai ordered action against the then Superintendent of Police of the district, BK Bhola, for threatening him. Nearly 37 years after a sessions court judge ordered action against the then Superintendent of Police (SP) of Lalitpur district for allegedly behaving like a goon while threatening him, the Allahabad High Court has taken cognizance of the matter and directed Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police to submit an affidavit on the action initiated against the police officer.
Hearing an appeal challenging the Lalitpur Sessions Court order of 1988, convicting 28 people in a murder case, the High Court Bench of Justice JJ Munir and Justice Sanjiv Kumar took cognizance of two paragraphs in the sessions court judgment where the judge LN Rai ordered action against the then Superintendent of Police of the district, BK Bhola, for threatening him.
“… paragraph numbers 190 and 191 of the impugned judgment in this appeal, there are some very serious remarks against one B.K. Bhola, one-time Superintendent of Police in the service of the State, who was posted at District Lalitpur. The remarks go to the extent that B.K. Bhola, Superintendent of Police, Lalitpur, had the audacity and dare to threaten the learned Trial Judge of dragging him to the police station if he summoned certain records from the Police, certain wireless messages, or compelled the SP to appear as a defence witness,” the Bench observed.
“The learned Trial Judge did recommend departmental action against B.K. Bhola… but was kind in not making a reference to this Court for initiation of criminal contempt proceedings… However, the remarks of the learned Trial Judge in paragraph numbers 190 and 191 of the impugned judgment are so damning that these cannot be overlooked,” the Bench added.
Stating that it’s not known whether the then SP has retired by now or is alive, the High Court directed the DGP to submit an affidavit by December 9 on whether BK Bhola is still alive or not. “It shall also be indicated (in the affidavit) whether he is still in service or receiving pension. In case he is still around, his complete particulars and residential address, along with police station shall be furnished by the DGP. If there is any other report about his status, that shall also be disclosed. In either case, it shall be reported what action was taken against BK Bhola on the basis of the directions of the learned Trial Judge,” the Bench said.
Noting that there are names of other officers in the impugned judgment, the High Court said “they are sundry officers, and it would be another day’s matter to inquire into their conduct, since the District Superintendent of Police was found by the judge to have behaved like a goon”.
Share
