Court Pulls Up Delhi Police Over Arrest Procedure in Murder Case

New Delhi- A court in New Delhi has strongly criticised Delhi Police for allegedly bypassing legal procedures while arresting a murder suspect from Bihar. The court expressed concern that the accused was brought to Delhi without obtaining the mandatory transit remand, calling the approach troubling and against established safeguards.

Judicial Magistrate Apoorv Bhardwaj made the observations while hearing a plea seeking police custody of one of the accused, Mukesh. The court noted that he was apprehended in Darbhanga but was not formally arrested there. Instead, he was transported to Delhi before being shown as arrested, raising questions about adherence to due process.

The magistrate remarked that such conduct appeared to sidestep legal requirements meant to protect the rights of individuals during inter-state arrests. The investigating officer has been directed to submit an explanation through the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police on why proper procedure was not followed.

The case relates to a murder reported on April 26, where the accused are suspected to have been involved not only in the killing but also in attempts to conceal evidence. The court has remanded Mukesh to short-term judicial custody, while the police request for further custodial interrogation remains pending.

In a related development, another accused, Anil, was granted relief as the court observed that the charges against him were bailable and that there was no direct evidence placing him at the crime scene. According to case records, his role was limited and did not involve active participation in the alleged offence.

The court reiterated that law enforcement agencies must strictly follow legal protocols, especially in inter-state operations, to ensure transparency and uphold constitutional protections.