HC orders Mah govt to abandon practice of temporary custody

Mumbai, Oct 16 (UNI) While disapproving police machinery's practice of keeping accused in temporary custody, the Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra government to abandon the practice by October 29.

Justice R M S Khandeparkar, presiding over a Division Bench, found no record was being maintained regarding persons being kept in being temporary police custody, when he visited the Oshiwara police station on Sunday in connection with a petition.

The division bench comprising Justice R M S Khandeparkar and V K Tahilramani was hearing a petition regarding Aman Sidhhiqui, an accused in a case filed with the Oshivara police station.

The police are claiming that Aman ran away on March 28, 2007 from their custody when he was being taken to the latrine, whereas his family members are suspecting foul play at the hands of the police, apprehending that he might have been eliminated by policemen.

The court further directed the state to furnish, within two weeks, details of such temporary custodies throughout the state and information regarding policemen, who were on duty when Aman allegedly ran away.

UNI