This Article is From Aug 31, 2015

Shwetang Patel Probe a Question of Police Fairness, Gujarat High Court Says

Shwetang Patel Probe a Question of Police Fairness, Gujarat High Court Says

According to his family, Shwetang was not an activist or protester and he had not taken part in the protest led by Hardik Patel.

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court today said that an impartial probe by the CID in the death of 32-year-old Shwetang Patel will go a long way in "restoring" the confidence of people in the "fairness and objectivity" of the Gujarat Police.

The observations came after the Gujarat government filed a report on the ongoing probe of Shwetang Patel, whose family alleges he died in police custody last Tuesday in Ahmedabad, as violence gripped the city after the brief detention of politician Hardik Patel.

Government counsel Mitesh Amin informed the court that an FIR has been lodged at the Bapunagar police station and Gujarat CID had taken over the probe. "An officer of the rank of DSP has taken over the probe and already the statement of victims mother and sister have been recorded and further statements are being recorded,'' Mr Amin informed the court.

Justice JB Pardiwala ruled that since necessary steps have been taken following the earlier orders, the court will now cease the monitor the case.

"It is now up to the Gujarat CID to carry out an in-depth and impartial probe to see to it that anyone found guilty should be booked and punished. The impartial and fair probe by the Investigating agency will go a long way in restoring the confidence of the common man in Gujarat police," he observed.

On Friday the High Court had ordered a probe into the death of the Shwetang after a second post-mortem report had stated that he had died due to severe head injuries. His family alleges that he was beaten in police custody and died of injuries.

 The court noted that the death "looked homicidal".

According to his family, Shwetang was not an activist or protester and he had not taken part in the protest led by Hardik Patel. The police however alleged that the young man was part of a mob involved in arson in the Bapunagar area.
.