In a powerful condemnation, the Supreme Court on Thursday, September 25, 2025, sharply criticized the Madhya Pradesh government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for their ongoing failure to arrest two police officers. These officers are allegedly responsible for the custodial death of 25-year-old Deva Pardhi in July 2024. The court explicitly stated that this failure to follow its May 15 orders constitutes ‘aggravated contempt’.
Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan, presiding over the Bench, expressed their dismay to the State’s counsel, stating, ‘More than four months have elapsed, and our court’s directive remains unfulfilled. It strongly appears that you are actively shielding these officers.’
The Supreme Court was addressing a contempt petition lodged by the victim’s family, which accused authorities of deliberately ignoring the May 15 order. This previous ruling had shifted the investigation from the Madhya Pradesh Police to the CBI, following accusations that the state police had tried to hide facts and undermine the inquiry. At that time, the Supreme Court had issued a clear directive: ‘The police officials identified as responsible for the custodial death must be arrested immediately, within one month at the latest.’
Advocate Payoshi Roy, representing the petitioner, highlighted that despite the court’s unambiguous instructions, the State government continued to pay the accused officers their salaries. Justice Nagarathna reacted strongly, questioning the State’s counsel: ‘You were a named party in the order. This action by the State government constitutes contempt of the Supreme Court. How can the State approve salaries for individuals who were explicitly ordered to be arrested?’
When the State’s counsel attempted to argue that the arrest responsibility rested solely with the CBI as per the court’s order, Justice Mahadevan retorted, ‘You are an integral part of the State administration. How can you abdicate your duty when such a serious crime has occurred?’
Previously, on September 23, the Bench had issued a warning that it would initiate contempt proceedings against the Chief Secretary, the CBI Director, and the Additional Superintendent overseeing the investigation. The court had requested an updated status report and indicated it might reconsider the contempt case if the arrests were completed within two days.
Additional Solicitor General Raja Thakare, representing the CBI, updated the court, stating that the two officers had been suspended on Wednesday. He added that a cash reward of ₹2 lakh had been offered for any information leading to their capture. The agency also mentioned that their financial activities were under scrutiny, and their vehicles were being tracked at highway checkpoints.
The Bench, however, remained thoroughly unimpressed. ‘Why only yesterday?’ the judges questioned sharply. ‘You claim they’ve been missing since April. What does this signify? Your so-called efforts appear to be nothing more than a facade.’ They then instructed the CBI to promptly contact the State’s Director-General of Police to pinpoint the officers’ exact location.
The petitioner’s counsel further revealed that one of the accused officers had even sought anticipatory bail from a sessions court in Indore. Justice Mahadevan expressed grave concern, telling the State counsel, ‘You are clearly shielding an officer who was explicitly ordered to be arrested. How can he dare to file an anticipatory bail application in defiance of a Supreme Court order?’
The Bench then suggested that it was appropriate to summon the Chief Secretary for a personal appearance at the upcoming hearing. ‘We will require the Chief Secretary’s presence,’ the judges noted, ‘so we can directly communicate the true intent and requirements of the Supreme Court’s order.’
Despite the court’s stern stance, the case was adjourned following persistent requests from the State’s counsel, who asked for more time to gather instructions and justify the continued disbursement of salaries to the implicated officers. The court mandated that the case be prioritized and listed for hearing on September 26.
The incident began on July 15, 2024, when Deva Pardhi, a 25-year-old from Bilakhedi, was taken into custody by Guna police regarding an alleged ₹8 lakh theft. His family was later notified by the district hospital that a ‘Pardhi youth’ had been brought in for a post-mortem. Upon their arrival, they made the devastating discovery that he had died while in police custody.
Initially, the police asserted that Pardhi’s death was due to cardiac arrest. However, his mother took the matter to the Supreme Court, which subsequently issued the May 15 order mandating a CBI investigation.
Since then, the CBI has arrested three individuals linked to the investigation, but two senior police officers, directly implicated in the custodial death, are still evading arrest.