Kolkata HC slams Rajarhat Police for mishandling investigation, issues final warning

The Kolkata High Court has strongly criticized the Rajarhat Police over the handling of an ongoing criminal investigation related to an alleged attack on a complainant’s residence. The incident involved an alleged assault by 12 individuals on the day of the attack. According to the police's preliminary report, the attackers were identified, and the incident was confirmed to have occurred. Despite this, the police sought permission from the lower court to continue with the investigation, which prompted the High Court's scrutiny.

Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, who presided over the case, questioned the necessity of the police’s request for court approval. He remarked that once the police had gathered primary evidence of a crime, there was no need to seek additional authorization from the lower court. "Where the police have found primary evidence of a crime that the court can recognize, there is no need for permission from the lower court," the judge stated, emphasizing that the police should be able to proceed with their investigation independently at this stage.

The court also raised concerns regarding the competence of the police officers handling the case. Justice Ghosh asked whether the officers involved were properly trained to conduct criminal investigations, noting that the police should have been able to proceed with the case based on the evidence already available. He further questioned the officers' legal knowledge and whether they were adequately prepared to handle such cases, stating, "Do you think these police officers are competent to be in the police station? Do you think they know how to investigate criminal cases?"

In addition to his concerns about the investigation, Justice Ghosh also highlighted ongoing issues with law enforcement in the New Town and Rajarhat areas. He warned that failure to address these issues promptly would result in strict actions against the officers involved. The court is expected to issue a final directive on December 5, 2024, after reviewing the progress of the investigation.