Rajesh Pandey
In a significant and strongly worded order, the Allahabad High Court has revived a 37-year-old matter involving a former Superintendent of Police (SP) accused of threatening a sitting Sessions Judge during the trial of a murder case in Lalitpur district.
The division bench, comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Sanjiv Kumar, stated that such serious misconduct could not be disregarded merely because decades had passed.
The bench was hearing a criminal appeal filed by Brindawan and others related to a murder case registered at Narahat police station, Lalitpur.
The court reviewed the original trial judgment and noted disturbing remarks recorded by the then presiding officer.
It directed the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) to file a personal affidavit detailing the present status of the officer concerned (then SP BK Bhola) and the actions, if any, taken against him since the incident.
According to the observations in the High Court order dated November 27, the Superintendent of Police allegedly threatened to “drag the trial judge to the police station” if certain police records, including wireless messages, were summoned or if he was compelled to appear as a defence witness.
The bench remarked that the officer had exhibited “audacity and daring of a shocking degree.”
The trial judge at that time had recommended departmental action but did not initiate criminal contempt proceedings, a gesture which the High Court described as “kindness on his part.”
The High Court noted that the then SP had behaved “like a goon and threatened the trial judge,” and asserted that such misconduct strikes at the very foundation of judicial independence and the rule of law.
The matter will now be taken up after the DGP submits the affidavit.
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