Court raps Delhi Police for half-hearted probe

Acquitting three persons accused in a dacoity case, a local court has rapped Delhi Police for doing a half-hearted probe and asked it to assess the work done by its officials in connection with case.
"On the basis of a half heartedly conducted investigation and suspicious recovery proceedings as well as doubtful identification of the accused persons, I do not find it to be safe to raise presumption of guilt of the accused persons for alleged charges.
"Hence, all accused persons are acquitted of all the charges levelled against them," Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala said.
Taking strong exception over the manner in which the probe was conducted the judge said, "I have no hesitation to add here that this case was neither solved nor properly investigated."

"Investigating agency as well as prosecution presented the case to show as if the case was solved. Hence, it is desirable that an appraisal of the work of related officials is made by the respective departments and needful is done accordingly," the judge said.
The court was hearing a case relating to a dacoity which took place in 2011.

According to prosecution, Jahangir, Karim and Jagdish had committed a dacoity at the house of Delhi resident Ramesh Chand Sharma February 13, 2011, using pistols and knife.
Police said that the accused had looted Rs 2.6 lakh in cash, jewellery and cell phones from the possession of Sharma's family and had locked them in bathroom before fleeing from the spot.

All the accused were arrested but pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
Pointing out at several discrepancies in the probe, the court said if the accused persons were involved in this crime, then their finger prints should have matched with the chance prints lifted from the spot, but there is no such positive result placed and proved on the record, to connect the accused persons with the alleged crime.