Insaaf Times Desk
The Supreme Court has strongly reprimanded the Maharashtra Police for their inaction during the communal riots in Akola in May 2023, which resulted in a murder. The court emphasized that police officers must set aside their personal and religious biases and perform their duties with complete honesty and impartiality once they don the uniform.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and Satish Chandra Sharma directed the Maharashtra Home Department to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Akola riot case. The SIT will include senior police officers from both Hindu and Muslim communities and is required to submit its report to the Supreme Court within three months.
During the Akola riots, 39-year-old electrician Vilas Gaikwad was killed, and eight others were injured. A 17-year-old witness claimed that the police ignored his testimony and failed to register an FIR, prompting him to approach the Supreme Court directly.
The court sharply observed, “When police officers wear the uniform, they are required to set aside all personal, religious, caste-based, or any other biases and perform their duties diligently. Unfortunately, this did not happen in the present case.”
The Supreme Court’s directive sends a clear message that the police must act with impartiality and integrity, especially in sensitive situations. The court further noted that police officers must fully assume their responsibilities and avoid any form of discrimination while executing their duties.
