High court orders CID probe into bonded labourer’s death

The Bombay high court on Wednesday said the state criminal investigation department (CID) should probe the torture and death of an adivasi bonded labourer, reported by a newspaper last month.

The Bombay high court on Wednesday said the state criminal investigation department (CID) should probe the torture and death of an adivasi bonded labourer, reported by a newspaper last month.

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The court had issued suo-motu notices to Vasind police station and superintendent of police, Thane (rural), after the report published by DNA was brought to its notice on November 29.

Public prosecutor PA Pol informed the court that two cases have been registered with the Shahpur police for kidnapping and murder. He submitted that a police naik has been suspended and enquiry has been initiated against two officers for dereliction of duty in the case.

Advocate Subhada Khot, appearing for the widow of the adivasi labourer, argued that a CID probe is essential since the investigating assistant police inspector did not take any action after acknowledging a written complaint by the widow on November 16.

“If he had taken any action the victim would not have died on November 21,” Khot said, adding that one of the accused had taken the victim to a hospital and managed a medical report in his favour.