Supreme Court's Split Verdict: Custodial Death and Police Accountability in Focus

The Supreme Court delivered a split verdict in a 1995 custodial death case. Justice Sanjay Kumar convicted policemen for culpable homicide, criticizing the lack of mechanisms to curb police excesses. Conversely, Justice C T Ravikumar acquitted them, citing insufficient evidence. The case involved an alleged custodial torture and fabrication of evidence by police to escape prosecution.

The Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on Wednesday in a long-standing 1995 custodial death case. The ruling highlighted the divide in judicial opinions on police accountability and custodial deaths.

Justice Sanjay Kumar convicted the accused policemen for culpable homicide, making scathing remarks about police excesses and the legal system's failure to curb such inhuman practices. He noted that claims of the deceased escaping custody were fabricated by the police to evade prosecution.

Conversely, Justice C T Ravikumar acquitted the policemen, citing insufficient medical and oral evidence to prove the accusatory claims. This split verdict exposes a critical gap in the justice system regarding custodial torture and the accountability of law enforcement officers.

(With inputs from agencies.)