In a strong intervention, the Supreme Court has ordered the removal of an Indore police officer from all investigative and supervisory responsibilities after prima facie findings revealed repeated reliance on the same witnesses across multiple cases.
The Bench, comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan, directed that Station House Officer Indramani Patel be posted to police lines without any investigative work until further notice. The Court also warned that the Commissioner of Police, Indore, could face personal liability if Patel interfered with police actions in any form.
The decision stems from concerns that the officer’s use of “stock witnesses” undermines the impartiality of criminal investigations and erodes public trust in law enforcement. “Repeated deployment of the same witnesses in multiple cases strikes at the very root of fairness in investigation,” the Court noted.
The matter came to light during a bail plea filed by Anwar Hussain, in which the State had incorrectly reported multiple pending criminal cases against him. Upon scrutiny, it emerged that Hussain was either not named in several cases or had already been acquitted. The Court rejected the State’s explanation of a clerical error and granted Hussain bail, emphasizing the risk to personal liberty.
Beyond Hussain’s bail, the Supreme Court took serious note of the police conduct, issuing notices to the SHO, an Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, and the Commissioner of Police, Indore, for explanations. Personal affidavits from all three officers were ordered, highlighting the Court’s focus on restoring public confidence in law enforcement.
The SHO’s actions had also attracted scrutiny from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which found that he had illegally detained a man without court authorization, a blatant violation of Article 21. This incident reinforced the Supreme Court’s view that swift interim action was warranted.
The case is scheduled for further hearing on February 3, when the Court will examine the roles of the Commissioner and the Additional DCP in relation to these serious lapses.
