Court order for disciplinary enquiry against police officials in Acid Attack case for "callous" investigation

New Delhi [India], March 24 : The Rohini Sessions Court in Delhi has issued a stern directive, demanding stringent disciplinary action against three police officials whose conduct during the investigation of a grave acid attack case has been deemed egregiously negligent.
Additional Sessions Judge Dhirendra Rana, in a recent order, meticulously documented the glaring procedural lapses that marred the investigation. Central to the court's concern was the conspicuous failure of initial investigating officers to secure crucial pieces of evidence.
Specifically, it was noted that Head Constable (HC) Krishan and Sub-Inspector (SI) Sandeep neglected to seize the mattress bearing remnants of the acidic substance and the clothing worn by the victim at the time of the harrowing attack. This omission represents a critical breach of investigative protocol, potentially compromising the integrity of the evidence and hindering the pursuit of justice.
Subsequently, the investigation was transferred to SI Ved Parkash, who recovered the acid-stained mattress and a saree from the victim's residence. These items were then dispatched to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for analysis. However, during her testimony before the court, the victim clarified that while the saree seized by SI Ved Parkash did belong to her, it was not the garment she was wearing during the assault.
The prosecution's narrative, as presented to the court, detailed a brutal attack that occurred on June 17, 2018, at approximately 9:00 AM. The victim, while at her residence, was allegedly subjected to a coordinated assault by her mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and other accused individuals.
The assault reportedly involved an attempt to strangle her, followed by her uncle holding her hair whilst her husband forcibly poured an acidic substance into her mouth. Amid this terrifying ordeal, the victim managed to contact her brother, who then alerted the police. Consequently, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the accused at the Shahbad Dairy Police Station.
The assault resulted in severe injuries to the victim, including the permanent loss of sight in one eye and significant impairment of her speech. The victim's condition necessitated hospitalization, and she was examined approximately ten days after the incident, following a period of unconsciousness. The prompt reporting of the crime to the police underscores the severity of the attack and the urgent need for a robust and effective investigation.
Advocates Ravi Drall and Aditi Singh, representing the victim, vehemently argued that the police officials' negligence in seizing and preserving critical evidence had resulted in a grave miscarriage of justice. They highlighted the negative FSL report, which the defence had consistently used to argue that no acid was used in the attack. This outcome, they asserted, was a direct consequence of the delayed seizure of evidence and the potential degradation or loss of crucial forensic information. The advocates demanded that stringent action be taken against the errant police officials to rectify the injustice suffered by the victim and to prevent similar lapses in future investigations.
In response to these compelling arguments, the court issued a decisive order, directing the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) concerned to initiate a thorough inquiry into the conduct of SI Sandeep, HC Krishan, and retired SI Ved Parkash. To facilitate this inquiry, the court ordered that copies of the replies filed by SI Sandeep and SI Ved Parkash be forwarded to the DCP, alongside a copy of the court's order.