Justice Anant Dave has shown strong indication of entrusting the custodial torture case of Vishal Singala against Jamnagar DSP Trivedi to independent investigating agency like the CBI.
As per the case details, Singala, an alleged bootlegger had filed a complaint in the court against Trivedi, police inspector A P Jadeja and police sub-inspector G N Waghela, whom he accused of thrashing him in police custody.
Justice Dave had then told Singala to file an FIR in Jamnagar against Trivedi and two other cops, however, he filed another application in the court, saying that he wanted to withdrew the case against the police officers following pressure from his community elders.
The judge made it clear that the court was primarily concerned with issue of custodial torture and asked the state government to transfer the three cops out of Jamnagar so that independent inquiry can take place in the case.
Today, the court indicated that inquiry can be given to an independent investigating agency like CBI.
At the court's insistence over handing over the probe to CBI, the government pleader Prakash Jani proposed that the state government is more than willing to hold a preliminary inquiry into whether the complainant was forced by the cops to withdraw his petition.
Jani also expressed strong reservations against assigning the inquiry to CBI, saying it would have a demoralising effect on police force, particularly when actions are initiated on basis of a complaint of a history-sheeter.
Justice Dave has also roped in the assistant solicitor general P S Champaneri on behalf of the Centre on what disciplinary action could be taken against Trivedi and under which rules his IPS nomination could be suspended.
Champaneri is likely to address the court on Wednesday after which justice Dave may pass the final order in this case.
