Dhruti Patel death case: High court raps Navsari cops for destroying evidence

SURAT: Gujarat high court has come down hard on police in Navsari when it stated in a recent order that they had tried to destroy evidence in Dhruti Patel death case of March 26, 2012.
Justice Anant Dave said this in his August 9 order rejecting the applications for bail by accused Niru Patel, mother-in-law of Dhruti, and Kruti Patel, the deceased's sister-in-law.The court refused to grant bail to the accused on the ground that the investigation in the case had already been tampered with and if the applicants are released on bail at this stage, they may tamper with the evidence and influence witnesses and the investigation officer. The HC also stated that a thorough and impartial investigation by an independent agency like Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was required to be done.
"The court will be failing in its duty if it does not record that the filing of the charge-sheet by the investigation officer is based on deliberate and considered mischief to shield the accused, for which, the complainant is free to take suitable action in accordance with law," the order said.
The HC also considered observations of the trial court that the inquest punchnama and punchnama of the scene of offence were tampered with, no table or stool was found in the bathroom standing upon which the deceased reached the curtain pipe at a height of 6.4 feet to tie the towel. The court also considered the trial court's observation that the towel using which Dhruti hanged self has not been taken as 'muddamal' (circumstantial evidence) and not sent for forensic examination. The court also made serious observations about the 14 injury marks on the body of the deceased.
Dhruti was found dead in the bathroom of her bedroom at her house, while the other accused in the case were at home on March 26. She was taken to hospital by her husband and other family members without informing her parents, who stay nearby. Police were informed after she was declared dead at the hospital.
Police arrested Dhruti's husband Divyesh, father-in-law Gordhanbhai, brother-in-law Hiral, mother-in-law and sister-in-law.