SC Orders SIT Probe into Akola Riots Murder Case, Slams Maharashtra Police
Bench says police must shed religious bias in uniform; disciplinary action directed against erring officials
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2025-09-11 13:55 GMT
New Delhi: Underscoring that police officers in uniform must set aside personal and religious biases, the Supreme Court on Thursday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe an alleged murder during the 2023 communal riots in Akola, Maharashtra.
The apex court criticised the Maharashtra Police for dereliction of duty and sheer negligence in failing to register an FIR in the matter.
A two-judge bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Satish Chandra Sharma directed the state home department secretary to constitute an SIT comprising senior police officers from both Hindu and Muslim communities to conduct the probe after registering an FIR.
The bench observed: “Needless to state, when members of the police force don their uniforms, they are required to shed their personal predilections and biases, be they religious, racial, casteist, or otherwise. They must be true to the call of duty attached to their office and their uniform, with absolute and total integrity. Unfortunately, in the case on hand, this did not happen.”
Clashes had broken out in May 2023 in the Old City area of Akola after a social media post about Prophet Muhammad went viral. The violence resulted in the death of Vilas Mahadevrao Gaikwad and injuries to eight others, including the petitioner in the case.
According to petitioner Mohammad Afzal Mohammad Sharif, four persons attacked Gaikwad with a sword, an iron pipe, and other objects. The assailants also damaged his vehicle and assaulted him on the head and neck. Though Sharif was admitted to a hospital and his statement recorded by police, no FIR was registered.
Sharif, through his father, moved the Bombay High Court against the police officers for failing to file an FIR. However, the High Court dismissed the petition, doubting his bona fides. Maharashtra Police told the High Court that Sharif’s claim of being an eyewitness was never substantiated during the investigation.
Coming down heavily on the police, the Supreme Court directed the State Secretary to initiate disciplinary proceedings against all erring officials for gross dereliction of duty.
The court further ordered: “Measures shall also be initiated to instruct and sensitise the rank and file in the police department as to what the law requires of them in the discharge of their duties. The investigation report of the Special Investigation Team, constituted pursuant to this direction, shall be placed before this court within three months.”
The bench also emphasised: “It was for the police to investigate the truth or otherwise of the specific allegations made by the appellant, a 17-year-old boy, who asserted that he was an eyewitness to the murder of Vilas Mahadevrao Gaikwad and was himself assaulted by the same assailants.”