SC notice to govt, ex-Jorhat SP in ‘custodial torture’ case

Guwahati: The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Assam govt and a former district superintendent of police in an appeal challenging the Gauhati high court’s refusal to order a CBI probe into allegations of custodial torture of a youth in 2023, who later died by suicide allegedly due to “mental pressure”.

Advocate Arif Jwadder said, “The apex court has issued the notice to the state govt and the then SP of Jorhat Mohan Lal Meena, who is an accused in the case.”

The appeal stems from a petition by Rimly Gogoi, who alleged her brother Dipankar Gogoi was detained by personnel of Titabar police station on Dec 22, 2023, in connection with a bomb blast that occurred on Dec 14 at Lichubari in Jorhat, and was released on the intervening night of Dec 22 and 23.

In her protest petition before a lower court objecting to the police final report, Rimly Gogoi Saikia alleged Dipankar was picked up on Dec 22, 2023 “without any reason”. She alleged that IPS officer Mohan Lal Meena, then SP of Jorhat and named as the prime accused, pointed his service pistol at Dipankar’s head and forced him to confess to the Lichubari blast.

Saikia alleged Dipankar was “brutally tortured” when he pleaded innocence, and that he was again picked up on Dec 23, 24 and 25 in 2023 and subjected to torture. She also alleged the SP threatened to shoot him dead.

On Dec 26, Dipankar’s body was found hanging from a tree behind the garden of their house. Saikia alleged he took the extreme step due to police torture.

Following the protest petition, the lower court ordered a re-investigation by a senior police officer. Citing dissatisfaction with the investigation and its progress, Saikia moved the Gauhati High Court in 2025 seeking a CBI investigation.

The high court, after considering the facts and circumstances, held that Saikia did not produce material to show the investigation was conducted in a shoddy manner or to shield police personnel, and declined to order a CBI probe.

Saikia then approached the Supreme Court challenging the high court order, leading to the issuance of notice to the state and the former SP.