Police jeep set on fire in 2023: Accused knocks on Gujarat HC door, citing ‘bipolar disorder’: ‘Perceived myself as ‘Batman’
The petitioner also informed the court that he was arrested on the same day as the incident on September 10, 2023 and produced before a magistrate the following day, where he was granted bail.
Gujarat government has appointed an administrator for a prominent Maninagar school to ensure the safety and academic stability of over 10,000 students. (File)
The Gujarat High Courton Monday issued notice to the state while hearing a petition for quashing of an FIR lodged against a man for allegedly setting afire a police jeep parked near the Ellisbridge police station in September 2023.
In his submissions before the court, the 48-year-old petitioner stated he suffers from a “high degree bipolar disorder” and had “perceived himself to be the character by the name Batman” when he indulged in the alleged act.
On Monday, Justice VK Vyas of the Gujarat HC considered the submissions made by the counsel appearing for the petitioner and issued notice to the state as well as the then police sub-inspector attached to Ellisbridge police station. The court also orally remarked that the petitioner must move an application before the magistrate as per the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for an inquiry to form a judicial opinion about the condition of the accused at the time when the crime was committed.
A senior advocate appearing for the petitioner submitted medical records before the court on Monday to state that he was “suffering from bipolar disorder with psychotic basis and is on medication since 2017 and undergoing periodic treatment”. The petitioner’s counsel also informed the court that the petitioner’s aged mother takes care of him.
The petitioner’s counsel stated, “My only request is that primarily he has committed an offence… but the police have not even taken these documents (medical records) on record in the chargesheet. Without these, I will never be able to prove my innocence…” The petitioner also submitted to the court that
He suffered from a bipolar disease of a high degree, which “occurs phases and does not remain with a person forever”. The counsel submitted to the court, “On a day that the phase is there, he may be feeling elated … or he may be violent. He starts perceiving himself to be somebody. He may start perceiving himself to be a social worker and even police inspector some day… The day his incident occurred, he had started feeling that he is a character by the name Batman. He was in that relevant zone at that point of time. His house is very close to the police station. He went to the police jeep, took some papers from the jeep and burnt it and then kept it back and went out.”
The petitioner also informed the court that he was arrested on the same day as the incident on September 10, 2023 and produced before a magistrate the following day, where he was granted bail. Thereafter, he was admitted to a hospital for treatment and then to a rehabilitation center in Bengaluru.
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The court orally remarked, “The magistrate has to form the opinion whether at the time of the incident he was of a sound mind or not…”
Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues.
Expertise:
Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including:
Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground.
Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure.
Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case).
Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions.
Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More
