MP: Breakthrough in Deva Pardhi custodial death case; accused cop surrenders on eve of SC’s Oct 7 arrest deadline
Bhopal, Oct 6 – One of the police officers accused in the death of 26‑year‑old Deva Pardhi has turned himself in to authorities in Madhya Pradesh. The surrender came just hours before the Supreme Court’s deadline to arrest the two men on Oct 7, a move that could stop a major contempt case that was looming on the court’s calendar.
The officer, Press Inspector Sanjeet Singh Mawai, was wanted for over a year. He walked into the Badarwas police station in Shivpuri district late on Sunday evening, ending a manhunt that had drawn sharp criticism from the nation’s highest court. Mawai’s decision to surrender appears to be a direct response to the Supreme Court’s October 7 ultimatum, which could have forced state officials—including the chief secretary—to appear in court for failing to follow the court’s directives.
The tragic death that sparked the case
The story began in Guna district on July 15, 2024, when Deva Pardhi, a tribal man from the nomadic Pardhi community, was on his way to his wedding. He and his uncle, Gangaram, were in a tractor‑trolley for the wedding procession. Police intercepted the vehicle under the pretext of a theft investigation involving ₹8 lakh found in Bhidra village. Instead of a routine stop, the police took them to Myana police station. Hours later, Deva died in custody. The police said he had a sudden heart attack, but family members and witnesses reported beatings, electric shocks, and rough interrogations.
The funeral turned into a public outcry. Deva’s bride, devastated, tried to self‑immolate outside the police station. Many relatives followed suit, forcing local hospitals to rush them in. Tribal rights activists held protests, calling the incident another example of police impunity and the systematic abuse of Adivasi communities.
Supreme Court’s intervention
In May, a bench led by Justice B.V. Nagarathna slammed the local police’s investigation as a whitewash. The Court found evidence of tampering, witness intimidation, and deliberate concealment. It transferred the probe to the CBI and ordered, “The police officials responsible for the custodial death shall be arrested forthwith and not later than one month.” The order was a clear challenge to the “blue wall of silence” that shields errant officers and a reminder that custodial deaths violate Article 21 of the Constitution.
Despite the Court’s directive, both Mawai and his co‑accused, Assistant Sub‑Inspector Uttam Singh, remained at large. By September, the state had suspended them four months after the incident, but the officers continued to live freely while still receiving salaries. Deva’s mother filed a contempt petition against the CBI and the state, accusing them of willful disobedience.
At the Supreme Court hearings in late September, Justice Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan demanded that the omissions be remedied. They warned that failure to arrest the two men by Oct 7 would lead to the summoning of the CBI director, the state chief secretary, and the investigating officer.
How the officers were finally caught
On Sept 26, the CBI seized a tip and arrested Uttam Singh in Indore after he surrendered at a special court. Earlier, the CBI had offered a ₹2 lakh reward per head for credible tips. The following week, intelligence suggested that Mawai was hiding in Shivpuri. During a pre‑dawn raid, he slipped into the police station, reportedly under family pressure and fear of legal escalation. He was immediately handed over to the CBI for remand.
Both officers now face charges under Sections 302 (murder), 330 (extorting confession), and 193 (fabricating false evidence) of the IPC, as well as the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Broader context
The case is part of a disturbing pattern. In October, the Guna police captured dismissed Sub‑Inspector Ramveer Singh Kushwaha, who had evaded arrest for over two years and was accused of witness tampering in the 2022 murder of Atmaram Pardhi, a relative of Deva. Kushwaha won bail in the murder charge but was still under scrutiny for intimidation. These incidents highlight a broader trend: custodial deaths in Madhya Pradesh are rising, with 15 percent of cases in 2024 involving tribal or Adivasi victims, according to NCRB data.
Looking ahead
Deva’s mother, who has spent years campaigning from her home in Bilakhedi, now awaits the October 8 hearing. The Supreme Court’s stern stance and the recent arrests give the community a glimmer of hope that justice can finally take place. The officers are expected to be brought before the court, and the case may set a precedent for dealing with police misconduct across India.
The story continues to develop as the Supreme Court delivers its final judgment on the case.
Source: ianslive
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