Plea in SC alleges custodial torture, sexual assault of minor by Gujarat Police; Seeks SIT/CBI probe
New Delhi: A writ petition has been filed in the Supreme Court alleging custodial torture and sexual assault of a 17-year-old boy by police personnel in Gujarat’s Botad district. The petition, moved under Article 32, seeks a court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising officers outside the Gujarat cadre, or in the alternative, an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Advocate Rohin Bhatt, appearing for the petitioner, mentioned the matter before a bench of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran. He submitted that the minor was illegally detained, tortured, and subjected to sexual assault in police custody. The counsel further requested the constitution of a medical board at AIIMS, New Delhi, given the boy’s critical medical condition.
According to the plea, the boy was picked up on suspicion of theft of gold and cash and was illegally confined from August 19 to August 28, 2025. During this period, he was allegedly beaten by four to six officers at the Botad Town Police Station and sexually assaulted. The petition highlights that he was not produced before the Juvenile Justice Board or a Magistrate within 24 hours, nor was a medical examination conducted at the time of arrest.
It was further alleged that the petitioner’s grandfather was also subjected to custodial torture after being detained on August 21, and released only on September 1. On the same day, the police informed the family that the minor required urgent medical attention. He was then shifted to Zydus Hospital in Ahmedabad, where he is currently undergoing dialysis due to kidney damage and remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The plea raises concerns that the family was forced to sign documents under duress, falsely recording that the boy sustained injuries in a bicycle accident. It also states that while the minor was in the ICU, individuals claiming to be from the Magistrate’s office obtained his signatures on certain documents.
The petitioner has sought multiple reliefs, including registration of an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, POCSO Act, and Juvenile Justice Act, preservation of CCTV footage from the police station, immediate production of medical records, financial aid for treatment, compensation for custodial torture, and arrest of the errant police officers.
The matter has been listed for hearing on September 15.
The petition was drafted by Advocates Rohin Bhatt and Panistha Bhatt and filed through Advocate-on-Record Paras Nath Singh.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
TMC's reign of terror prevails in West Bengal: Rahul
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday strongly condemned the killing of party worker Debdeep Chatterjee allegedly by TMC goons, and said his party will not bow before this politics that stains India's non-violent tradition.
Chatterjee was brutally murdered in Asansol during post-poll violence. He was closely associated with Asansol North Congress candidate Prasenjit Puitandi, the party claimed.
The worker was attacked and beaten by those linked to the ruling All India Trinamool Congress and succumbed to injuries shortly thereafter, the West Bengal Congress alleged.
"The murder of Congress worker Debdeep Chatterjee by TMC-affiliated goons after the elections is utterly reprehensible. My deepest condolences to the grieving family," Gandhi said in a post on X.
"In West Bengal today, it is not democracy but TMC's reign of terror that prevails. Intimidating, attacking, and eliminating opposing voices after votes are cast -this has become the defining character of TMC," Gandhi also said.
He said the Congress' politics has never been based on violence, nor will it ever be.
"We too have lost our workers, yet we have always chosen the path of non-violence and the Constitution. This is our legacy, this is our resolve. "The demand is clear -immediate arrest of all the guilty, the harshest punishment, and grant full security and compensation for Debdeep's family," the former Congress chief said.
"We will not bow before this politics that stains India's non-violent tradition. Justice will be done," Gandhi said.
The West Bengal Congress, in a post on its X handle, said this tragic incident exposes the complete collapse of law and order in the state and raises serious questions about the safety of opposition workers in West Bengal.
"The fact that such violence has occurred immediately after polling highlights a deeply disturbing pattern of political intimidation and vendetta," it said.
The Congress stands firmly with the bereaved family and demands immediate arrest of all those responsible for this heinous crime and a fair, impartial, and time-bound investigation. It also said adequate compensation and protection for the victim's family.
"It is deeply concerning that even an FIR had not been registered at the time of reporting, further indicating administrative apathy in the face of such a grave incident.
"The Indian National Congress reiterates that democracy cannot survive in an atmosphere of fear and violence. We will continue to raise our voice against such atrocities and fight to ensure justice for every victim," the party said.
The Congress said the murder of Chatterjee by goons associated with TMC is highly condemnable and termed it a direct attack on democracy.
"Democracy in West Bengal has ended, and TMC's reign of terror continues. Silencing and subduing opposing voices through violence has become TMC's hallmark. We demand that the culprits be arrested immediately and given the harshest possible punishment. We will not allow the democracy of our country to be destroyed by these anti-people forces," the Congress said.
