Apex Court Slams Maharashtra Government Over Akola Riots Probing "Patent Dereliction of Duty"

Strategic Insights -

The Supreme Court has ordered the Maharashtra government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the killing of a Hindu man during communal riots in Akola on May 13, 2023. The bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Satish Chandra Sharma castigated the local police for their alleged failure to investigate the incident, stating that they failed to discharge their duties with integrity. The court also directed disciplinary action against erring police officers and directed the Home Ministry of Maharashtra to constitute the SIT, comprising senior police officers from both Hindu and Muslim communities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Supreme Court has directed the Maharashtra government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the killing of a Hindu man during communal riots in Akola on May 13, 2023.
  • The bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Satish Chandra Sharma castigated the local police for their alleged failure to investigate the incident, stating that they failed to discharge their duties with integrity.
  • The court observed that the police failed to investigate the truth or otherwise of the specific allegations made by a 17-year-old boy who claimed to have witnessed the murder and was himself assaulted by the assailants.
  • The bench directed disciplinary action against erring police officers "for the patent dereliction of duties".
  • The SIT will comprise senior police officers from both Hindu and Muslim communities.
  • The court ordered the Home Ministry of Maharashtra to constitute the SIT and register an FIR in connection with the assault on the 17-year-old boy.

Statistics:

  • 13 May 2023: Date of the communal riots in Akola.
  • 17-year-old boy: Age of the witness who claimed to have seen the murder and was himself assaulted by the assailants.
  • 4: Number of people involved in the assault.

Sources:

  • The Supreme Court observation in the case of Mohammad Afzal Mohammad Sharif vs. The State of Maharashtra (No date specified).
  • The judgment of the bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Satish Chandra Sharma in the same case (No date specified).
  • Copyright 2025 ABP Private Limited, distributed by Contify.com (No date specified).