Ahmedabad: Five individuals have approached the Gujarat High Court, seeking action against nine police officers in Vadodara for alleged custodial torture and parading them in full public view. The petitioners claim that the officers committed contempt of court by violating the Supreme Court's orders. The petition was filed by Sufiyan Mansuri, Shanawaz Kureshi, Junaid Sindhi, Anas Kureshi, and Sadeka Sindhi.
Background of the Case
The group was arrested following communal disturbances in August 2025. The unrest was triggered by an incident where eggs were allegedly hurled at a Ganesh procession in the Panigate area during Navratri. The petitioners allege that nine police officers, including Vadodara ACP M P Bhojani and Inspector D K Mangroliya, subjected them to custodial violence, torture, and harassment.
Allegations of Extrajudicial Punishment
In a petition filed through advocate Anand Yagnik, the petitioners stated that the nine officers robbed them of their dignity by parading them in full public view with their hands tied with ropes. They were forced to kneel and seek apology with folded hands to the public at large, which the petitioners termed as an extrajudicial punishment. The officers reportedly exhibited them as a symbol of hegemony by circulating videos on mass media and social media under the pretext of crime reconstruction.
The petition further stated that the torture inflicted by the police officials on the five applicants was in the form of extrajudicial punishment intended to instill fear and rob them of their dignity and fundamental rights. This reflects an unacceptable facet of state terrorism as contemplated under the D K Basu case. The petition termed the officers' actions as disobedience and contemptuous conduct, constituting contempt under the provisions of the Contempt of Court Act.
Court Proceedings
The bench of Justice Bhargav Karia and Justice L S Pirzada heard the matter. The court asked the petitioners' counsel to supply a copy of the petition to the government advocate and posted the case for further hearing on Thursday. The court did not issue any interim orders at this stage.
The petitioners have sought strict action against the nine police officers, including departmental proceedings and criminal prosecution for custodial torture and contempt of court. The case highlights ongoing concerns about police accountability and adherence to Supreme Court guidelines on custodial violence.
