Rats Destroy Evidence! High Court Rebukes Indore Police

Indore: In a shocking case of negligence, rats destroyed several evidences which were in possession of Indore Police.

As many as 29 samples, including evidence in a homicide case, have been destroyed as a result of the “pathetic condition” in which these were stored in police stations, Madhya Pradesh High Court noted while pulling up Indore Police.

The matter came into focus when the high court was hearing a bail plea by Ansar Ahmad, who was accused of beating his wife Tahira B in August 2021, causing injuries to her head, hand and spine, reported The Indian Express.

After Tahira died during treatment, police registered a case under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of BNS.

Called to testify, DCP (Zone 2) Abhinay Vishwakarma told the court that the “viscera” from the case was stored in plastic cans which were damaged by rats during the monsoon season. The DCP claimed that 29 different samples could no longer be used.

Justice Subodh Abhyankar pulled up the police for not taking into account safety of the materials.

“Although nothing can be done about this spilt milk, at least this incident has also brought into the light the pathetic condition in which the articles/material collected during investigation is kept in the police stations of the state,” Justice Abhyankar said.

The high court instructed the Madhya Pradesh police chief to “take stock” of all storage areas/‘malkhanas’ in police stations to avoid such lapses in future.