Supreme Court Orders CBI Probe into Custodial Death

The Supreme Court has strongly criticized the Madhya Pradesh government for failing to take action against police officers involved in the alleged custodial death of 24-year-old Deva Pardhi. Subsequently, the court has transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta has instructed the CBI's jurisdictional superintendent of police to immediately register a case, ensuring a fair and transparent investigation. The court emphasized the urgent need for resolving the case within 90 days following the arrest of the accused officers.

The court's decision follows a plea from Deva Pardhi's family, highlighting errors during the initial investigation, including pressure on medical officials and a lack of arrests. It deemed the case a prime example of 'nemo judex in causa sua,' citing police interference and a delayed FIR.

(With inputs from agencies.)