In a decisive move, the Supreme Court has mandated the formation of a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged abduction of Mansingh Patel, an OBC man, by Madhya Pradesh Minister Govind Singh Rajput and his associates. This decision, announced on August 6, follows a critique of the previous SIT, which was deemed inadequate by the court due to its composition of lower-ranking officials.
The bench, led by Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, expressed profound dissatisfaction with the earlier SIT’s handling of the case, labeling it a “mere eye-wash.” The court has instructed the newly formed SIT to complete its investigation within four weeks.
The controversy dates back to 2016 when Sita Ram Patel reported that his father, Mansingh Patel, was abducted over a land dispute and held illegally by Rajput and his aides. Despite the gravity of the allegations, the initial police response was slow, and an FIR was not filed until 2023. Even then, inconsistencies in witness statements and a lack of progress led to further scrutiny.
The Supreme Court criticized the local police for failing to address the case properly and directed the Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh, to assemble a new SIT led by high-ranking officers from outside the state. The new team will be tasked with re-investigating the case, ensuring a thorough and impartial process, and addressing all aspects of the land dispute and the alleged abduction.
The court’s directive includes detailed measures for witness protection, documentation scrutiny, and a clear timeline for the investigation’s completion. The Supreme Court has made it clear that if the new SIT fails to deliver, further legal recourse will be available for the aggrieved parties.
