India
Rats destroy evidence: Supreme Court of MP tells DGP to ensure maintenance of ‘malkhanas’ | India News – Times of India
This order followed the Vijay Nagar Police‘s statement that the plastic cans containing the intestines were damaged in connection with a suitcase rats amid rain, preventing police from obtaining histopathological report.
Police also reported that 28 other samples were also destroyed by rats.
A single bench of Indore HC consisting of Judge Subodh Abhyankar said: “This court is of the considered opinion that the police officers involved should have taken into account all relevant factors to protect and secure the material seized during the investigation.”
He added that even if nothing can be done about the “spoiled milk”, this incident at least highlights the pathetic condition in which the items and materials collected during the investigation are kept at the police stations of the state .
He was also concerned about the conditions at police stations in smaller towns when one of the busiest police stations in Indore, in this case, faced such an incident.
On October 4, Justice Abhyankar rejected the bail plea of a person accused of culpable homicide and directed the Director General of Police to check all malkhanas in the state to prevent similar incidents in future.
“For this purpose, a web link may be provided to all police stations for updating the latest inventory and status of the malkhana every month,” the judge said. Adding such a step will help police remain vigilant about their upkeep.
Police informed the court that a departmental investigation has been launched against the former officer responsible for the case Vijay Nagar police station and the malkhana in charge. They also stated that additional precautions are taken while transferring items from malkhanas to other locations.
