A court in Kalka has taken strong exception to the public parading of four murder accused who were forced to walk barefoot with shaved heads through the Pinjore market on June 6. The Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Abhimanyu Rajput directed that the matter be brought to the notice of the Sessions Judge, Panchkula, and instructed the Commissioner of Police, Panchkula, to conduct a separate inquiry or combine it with an ongoing custodial torture investigation.
Background of the incident
The murder of Jitesh Manocha occurred on June 5. The following day, police paraded the four accused—Manpreet Singh alias Mani, Rohit Mehta alias Vicky, Manish Kumar, and Khushdeep Singh alias Deepi—through the Pinjore market barefoot and with their heads shaved. The incident drew widespread criticism after photographs and videos circulated on social media.
Court hearing and allegations of custodial torture
During a court hearing on June 8, Deepanshu Bansal, counsel for Rohit Mehta, submitted that the accused had been subjected to custodial torture, public humiliation, forcible shaving of their heads, and being compelled to walk barefoot. He argued that photographs and videos were disseminated through a police media trial during their custody from June 6 to June 8, violating their fundamental rights under Articles 14, 21, and 22 of the Constitution of India.
Medical board findings
The court ordered the constitution of a medical board to examine injuries sustained by the accused. The board documented multiple injuries: Khushdeep Singh had a stitched wound on the right knee joint, a brown to purplish contusion on the left knee joint, a bluish contusion on the right knee joint, pain in the left foot, and brownish to purplish contusions on the anteromedial side of the right knee and the right side of the abdomen. Manish Kumar reported pain in the back of the neck, left knee joint, and left foot. Rohit Mehta had brownish to purplish contusions on both knee joints, the medial side of the left heel, and the side of the right foot. Manpreet Singh had contusions on both knee joints, a stitched wound below the left knee, an abrasion on the left heel, and pain in both feet. X-ray examinations of all four accused revealed no bone injuries.
Court’s observations on July 1
During a subsequent hearing on July 1, SDJM Abhimanyu Rajput observed, “The investigating agency is bound to proceed strictly in accordance with law. Custody of the accused is for lawful investigation and production before court. Extra-judicial acts of custodial violence, public humiliation/censure such as forcible shaving and parading, are unauthorised and liable to be condemned.” The judge further stated, “In a criminal case, the appropriate way of securing justice for the victim is to promptly apprehend the perpetrators, collect evidence swiftly and carefully, make out a proper case with an intact chain of circumstances, keep the victim informed about the progress, file the final report in time, which is then properly scrutinised by the prosecution, and thereafter ensure proper and timely recording of evidence during trial.” The order also noted, “The practice of subjecting an accused to public condemnation through media exposure, staged photographs, or other such acts amounts to an extra-legal penalty.”
Impact and next steps
The court’s directive underscores the importance of lawful investigation procedures and the protection of accused individuals’ rights. The inquiry ordered by the Commissioner of Police will determine whether the officers involved acted beyond their authority. The case highlights concerns over custodial violence and media trials in India.
