A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Bombay High Court seeking transfer of investigation in the Palghar Mob Lynching case to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or to constitute a Special Investigation team (SIT) to probe the same.
The same has been filed by Alakh Alok Shrivastava who is an advocate at the Supreme Court. He has contended that the various video clips of the incident that have surfaced online which show that the two sadhus were mercilessly attacked by a mob them with sticks and rods which led to their death. He further stated that the police personnel present at the spot did not do anything to stop the mob and instead one officer pushed a sadhu towards the mob.
According to the petition which relies on news reports, two Sadhus namely Sushil Giri Maharaj (35) and Maharaj Kalpavrikshgiri (70) along with their driver Nilesh Telgane (35) were travelling from Kandivali in Mumbai to Surat, Gujarat on April 16 to attend the last rites of Ramgiri Maharaj, a Hindu spiritual guru who had passed away earlier that day.
They were stopped from taking the National Highway due to the ongoing lockdown and hence had to took a detour. While they reached near village Gadchinchle in Palghar district, Maharashtra, they were reportedly taken into custody by the Palghar Police.
However, at that time, a large mob reportedly stopped the police vehicle and dragged the sadhus out. After this the unruly mob started brutally attacking the two Sadhus and their driver and killed all of them in an extremely ruthless manner.
The PIL states,
“Various video clips of the said incident later on surfaced in social as well as electronic media showing that the police didn’t even try to help the abovenamed deceased persons. When sticks and rods were rained on the elderly sadhu Maharaj Kalpavrikshgiri, he clung to a uniformed cop for help. But the officer shrugged him allowing the mob to do what it was doing. In one video, Maharaj Kalpavrikshgiri begged the mob to spare him but his cries didn’t move them.”
Till now a total of 101 people have been arrested and nine minors have been detained in relation to the incident. Along with this two police officers present at the spot have been suspended and the investigation has been handed to State CID.
However, the petitioner argues that there are serious allegations against the police personnel as to how they allowed such a large gathering in the present lockdown and why they did not protect the abovementioned deceased persons from the unruly mob.
It states,
“There are allegations that one of the police personnel pushed the elderly Sadhu to the violent mob, instead of saving him, which led to his brutal lynching. In various videos of the incident, surfacing on social media and electronic media, presence of a number of police personnel can be seen at the said place at the time of incident, however, no police personnel are seen taking any step in protecting the said deceased persons”.
The petitioner further seeks a compensation of Rs. 1 crore for the driver in the interest of justice. While the two sadhus had renounced their worldly desires, the petitioner contended at least the driver should be paid compensation.
The PIL seeks that the trial be conducted in a fast track court along with the transfer of investigation to the CBI or a Special Investigation Team constituted on the orders of the Court.
Stringent disciplinary and penal action under Indian Penal Code (IPC) by way of registration of FIR, is sought against the concerned policemen whose acts and omissions led to the brutal lynching incident.
