With both the CBI and the Madhya Pradesh Government failing to nab two officers of the state police wanted in connection with a custodial death case, the Supreme Court Friday fixed October 7 as the deadline for their arrest, failing which it warned of contempt charges against delinquent officers. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan directed that in case the accused officers are not arrested by the date, the MP Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and the Investigating Officer of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) must be present in court on October 8 to face contempt proceedings. The apex court’s bench was hearing a contempt plea by the kin of the deceased Deva Pardhi, 26, who was detained along with his uncle Gangaram Pardhi in July 2024 and allegedly tortured, leading to his death. “There is no progress in the implementation of the direction of this court issued in…on May 15, 2025.In view of the ensuing vacation, we direct that the respondents ensure the compliance of the direction of this Court… and file an affidavit of compliance on or before October 7, 2025, and serve a copy on the counsel for the petitioner,” the court stated. The top court is on recess next week on account of Dussehra. “In case there is compliance, the petitioner's counsel may mention the same so that the matter could be listed on October 8, 2025. In the event there is no compliance of the said direction, then on October 8, 2025, respondent no.1 (Additional Chief Secretary) and the respondent no. 3 (CBI investigating officer) shall be present in the Court,” it said. The court also asked the state government and the MP Director General of Police (DGP) to provide all relevant information to the CBI for taking steps to comply with its direction. SC gave a month’s time in May While transferring the investigation in the case to the CBI, the top court had on May 15, 2025 directed that “the police officials found responsible for the custodial death shall be arrested forthwith and not later than a period of one month…”. However, with two of these officers not arrested, the kin approached the Supreme Court once again with a contempt of court application. Hearing the plea on Tuesday, the bench pulled up the CBI for failing to arrest them despite its May 15 direction and warned that it “will not spare” the investigators if anything untoward happens to the eyewitness, Gangaram Pardhi. On Thursday, the bench rapped the state after being told that the two officers were suspended from service only on September 24, Wednesday and said that the state is “colluding with the officials” and “protecting” them. On Friday, the bench quizzed the CBI again. Advocate Payoshi Roy, appearing for the petitioners, said the investigators “are buying enough time to put pressure on the eye witness so that he resiles”. “Every time we have come before this court, the eye witness has been threatened and beaten up in custody,” she added. Justice Mahadevan told the CBI counsel, “We will also ask you to put in writing by an affidavit that you are incapable or helpless to arrest the officers.” ‘We are giving you an opportunity’ As the CBI counsel sought to justify the agency’s position, Justice Nagarathna said, “Your submissions fail to impress us.” She also asked the state to consider terminating the two accused from service. “Why don’t you terminate them? Then they will surface. Terminate both of them, You have reasons to terminate them. They have not attended office since April,” she told the state’s counsel. Justice Mahadevan said that the accused officers were also violating the orders of the Supreme Court. “We are also proceeding rather cautiously and slowly and not rushing in the matter. We will give you one more opportunity. By October 7, you file an affidavit before this court saying that you have arrested. Serve it on the counsel for the petitioner,” he said. “If that is so, she will move the matter and we will list it on the next day. If you have not arrested them, the matter will automatically come before this court on October 8 and we will ask your Additional Chief Secretary to be present before this court.” Justice Mahadevan said that if the current officers fail in their duty, “We will observe against them also in our order.” Justice Nagarathna added, “We are only saying, comply with the directions of the apex court of the country. Otherwise, we know how to get the things complied (with). If not complied, the consequent under the contempt petition will follow. We will frame charges and consequences under the contempt of courts act will follow. We are giving you an opportunity, we are proceeding slowly.”
