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.
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Karnataka power tussle: BJP leader calls Siddaramaiah 'Sultan for 15 days'
Bengaluru/Bagalkot (PTI): In the midst of the ongoing power tussle within the ruling Congress in Karnataka, senior BJP leader and MP Govind Karjol called CM Siddaramaiah "Pandrah din-ka-Sultan" (Sultan for 15 days), and said after that, he will not be the chief minister of the state.
Speculation has once again surfaced within the Congress party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results for Assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, are announced.
"With the fight for the CM chair in the Congress, there seems to be no administration at Vidhana Soudha. The result for Siddaramaiah's CM chair fight will also be declared, along with election results for five states (four states and one union territory) and bypoll results for Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly seats in Karnataka," Karjol, a former Deputy CM, said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "As per today's information, Siddaramaiah is a Sardar for fifteen days, he is Pandrah din-ka-Sultan, after that Siddaramaiah will not be the chief minister of the state."
Stating that Shivakumar is ready to take up the top job, the MP said that this is the reason Siddaramaiah's supporters have gone to New Delhi to meet the Congress President.
"Already 40-odd legislators have lobbied in support of Siddaramaiah; about 50 are lobbying in support of Shivakumar. Amid this fight for the CM chair, the administration has completely collapsed," he said, urging the government to focus on addressing drinking water issues in various parts of the state amid summer by releasing at least Rs 50 crore per district.
PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Monday met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary (in charge of Karnataka) Randeep Surjewala in New Delhi and requested them to address the speculation regarding the change of leadership in Karnataka.
Subsequently, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa too met the party leadership in Delhi.
Both Jarkiholi and Mahadevappa are considered close to Siddaramaiah.
While MLAs and leaders who want Shivakumar to be elevated as CM have recently claimed they expect some "sweet news" by May 15, which is their leader's birthday.
Meanwhile, a team of 40 MLAs is preparing to visit New Delhi to press the Congress high command for a Cabinet reshuffle.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka hit out at the Congress leadership for indulging in "power tussle" instead of addressing the people's concerns. He called the government "anti-people" and "dead" to the people of the state.
With the fight for the CM chair, the ruling Congress in Karnataka seems to be shifting to Delhi. Congress MLAs are repeatedly touring Delhi, upset over the state leadership amid a power struggle between the CM and Deputy CM. This proves that there is no value for the state leadership," he said.
Pointing out that the Deputy CM Shivakumar was not present at the recent special cabinet meeting, which decided on internal reservation among SCs, the opposition leader said, "If the cabinet meeting was held purposely, despite knowing that Shivakumar was in Delhi, it proves that there are factions within the party"
"This government is dead in a way," he said, as he hit out at the Congress MLAs and Ministers, including Shivakumar, for doing "Delhi Yatras" instead of addressing drinking water issues in various parts of the state amid summer, picking up in the state.
