Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 8: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the personal appearance of the head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Billawar in connection with the alleged custodial torture case leading to the suicide of a youth Makhan Din from village Bhatodi in Kathua district earlier this year.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The direction was passed by Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal while hearing a petition filed by Mohd Mureed and another, the father and wife of deceased Makhan Din, who allegedly committed suicide on February 5, 2025, following “third-degree torture” by personnel of Police Station Billawar.
The petitioners, through Advocate Appu Singh Slathia, have accused Billawar Police of subjecting 26-year-old Makhan Din to brutal torture, forcing him to end his life by hanging himself inside a mosque at his native village Bhatodi. They have also placed on record electronic evidence in the form of a pen drive, purportedly showing that two policemen-identified as Jugal and Harish were present when the deceased was taken to his house and later when his body was shifted to the hospital.
Earlier, when the matter came up before the Court on April 25, 2025, SDPO Billawar Neeraj Padyar, who is a member of the SIT headed by SP (Operations), had informed that the SHO of Police Station Billawar had already been transferred and that the two accused officials-Jugal and Harish-were never posted there.
However, taking note of the contradictory claims, the High Court said there was “ambiguity” in the SDPO’s statement and deemed it necessary to summon him to record a detailed statement before the Registrar Judicial.
“The necessity of recording the statement of Neeraj Padyar has arisen in light of the stand taken by the petitioners… wherein it has been submitted that two officials namely Jugal and Harish were present when Makhan Din was taken to his residence”, the High Court observed.
Justice Nargal also directed the SP (Operations), who is heading the SIT constituted on March 10, 2025, to remain personally present before the High Court on the next date of hearing to explain the progress of the investigation so far.
Government Advocate Suneel Malhotra was directed to produce the complete CD file of the SIT and apprise the High Court about the current status of probe into FIR No. 0032/2025.
The High Court also expressed displeasure over the delay in filing replies by some respondents despite issuance of notice as far back as April 16, 2025. “In spite of the fact that the matter was listed thereafter four times, the reply on behalf of respondent Nos.1 and 2 has not been filed till date,” the High Court noted.
While responses have been filed by CBI (respondent No.4) through Senior AAG Monika Kohli and by respondents 5 to 8 through Suneel Malhotra, the High Court granted one last opportunity to respondents to file their replies within a week, failing which the matter would be heard on merits.
Given the urgency and sensitivity of the issue, the High Court fixed October 27, 2025, for the next hearing and directed the presence of both SDPO Billawar and the SIT head (SP Operations) to facilitate further proceedings.
The post HC seeks presence of SIT Head, SDPO in torture-cum-suicide case appeared first on Daily Excelsior.