HC asks DGP to probe atrocity case

Hyderabad: Justice Ramesh Ranganathan of the AP High Court on Monday called for a report from the Director General of Police (DGP) in a case relating to investigation under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The judge voiced his displeasure at the lackadaisical approach of the police in investigation of a case filed by Dr K N Ibbate. The petitioner complained that he was abused by three other doctors of Adilabad in the name of his caste. He said that though he had registered a complaint as early as in May with the Adilabad town police station, there was no progress with the investigation.

The investigation officer informed the court in person that the caste status of the accused and the complainant were being verified and that revenue officials were not cooperating.

The judge wanted to know under what law such verification was taking place. Justice Ramesh Ranganathan pointed out that the Act prescribed a 30-day limit for completing investigation.

The judge was visibly unhappy at the manner in which months had lapsed in investigating the caste of two of the accused whose names had ‘Reddy’ suffix, and said that the police were trying to take everyone for a ride.

With the court being informed that the investigation report was sent to the Superintendent of Police in September and was now with DIG, Karimnagr Range, the judge called for a report from the DGP to report to the court on this episode. The judge specifically wanted the DGP to inform the court what he proposed to do to stop such practices which had the effect of defeating the spirit of the Act.