3 min readJaipurNov 5, 2019 04:26 PM IST
First published on: Nov 5, 2019 at 05:06 AM IST
In May 2019, a chargesheet was filed against Khan, his sons and against Khan Mohammed, allegedly the owner of the pickup truck carrying cattle when the lynching occurred.
The Rajasthan government has initiated action against four police officers involved in the investigation into the Pehlu Khan lynching case, police said on Monday.
“Based on the report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Pehlu case, the Vigilance Branch has initiated action against four police officers who were associated with the investigation into the case,” B L Soni, Additional Director General, CID CB, told The Indian Express.
Dairy farmer Pehlu Khan (55) and others were returning to their homes in Haryana from a cattle fair on the outskirts of Jaipur on April 1, 2017 when they were attacked by self-styled gau rakshaks in Alwar’s Behror. The mob accused them of being cattle smugglers and assaulted them. Pehlu succumbed to his injuries two days later.
The investigation was initially conducted by Behror police station SHO Ramesh Chand Sinsinwar. Subsequently, it was transferred to Behror Circle Officer Parmal Singh and then to Ramswaroop Sharma, Additional SP of Kotputli, which is under Jaipur Rural limits and adjacent to Behror. Later, Additional SP, CB CID, Govind Detha also investigated the case.
The four officers now face action on the basis of the report by the SIT, which was constituted by the Ashok Gehlot government after six accused in the lynching case were acquitted by an Alwar court.
After the SIT submitted its report, the government filed an appeal against the acquittals in the High Court. More recently, in a related development, the High Court quashed an FIR and the chargesheet against Pehlu Khan, his two sons and the owner of the truck for alleged transportation of cattle for slaughter.
According to officials, there were lapses on the part of Sinsinwar — now retired — and Singh in the investigation into the lynching case. Sharma and Detha “did not rectify the errors” made by Sinsinwar and Singh, the officers said.
“Major role was played by Sinsinwar and Singh and action will be taken against them. Although the other two did not have a major role, explanation will be sought from them,” an officer said.
The Chief Minister took a stock of the progress in the case during a review meeting on Sunday. “The CM said action should be ensured against those who committed lapses in the case,” said the officer, who attended the meeting.
In May 2019, a chargesheet was filed against Khan, his sons and against Khan Mohammed, allegedly the owner of the pickup truck carrying cattle when the lynching occurred.
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