Court slams police over eyewash in MCOCA case

New Delhi: A Delhi court has slammed the city police for what it called an "absolutely perfunctory and mere eyewash" report in an organised-crime case, in which two accused allegedly continued to commit heinous offences, including murder, for years after the stringent MCOCA was invoked against them but were arrested only in 2026.

Special Judge Gaurav Rao also sent a copy of the order dated October 5 to the Delhi police commissioner, saying the matter "calls for a detailed inquiry and appropriate action against all the erring officials/investigating officers".

The case pertains to an FIR registered in September 2020, in which the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was invoked against accused Mukesh alias Punit and Pardeep alias Guri.

The court noted that Mukesh was involved in around 20 FIRs, including two for murder and one for attempt to murder, when the MCOCA was invoked. After that, he was allegedly named in eight more FIRs between 2021 and 2024, including for murder, attempt to murder, robbery and kidnapping. He was arrested only on February 9, 2026, by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rakesh Kumar, after the investigation was assigned to him on September 25, 2025.

"Hence, before ACP Rakesh Kumar, none of the IOs made any efforts to arrest the said accused," the court said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Hans India