Kheda Muslim Men Flogging | 'Have Served Gujarat Police For 10-15 Yrs': Cops Facing Contempt Charges Urge High Court To Not Punish Them

The 4 policemen who have been charged under the Contempt of Courts Act by the Gujarat High Court for mercilessly beating five Muslim men in the Kheda district last year, today submitted in the HC that in case they are ultimately found guilty, they may not be punished and instead, appropriate compensation be provided to the complainants.

Senior Counsel Prakash Jani, appearing for the charged policemen, made this submission before the bench of Justice AS Supehia and Justice Gita Gopi contending that the policemen have served for 10-15 years and now, if they are found guilty and punished, it would adversely affect their record.

Taking into account the submission made by the Senor Counse, the Court, calling for a response of the complainant-Muslim men on the said plea of the policemen, adjourned the matter till Monday.

It may be noted that the Gujarat High Court last week framed Contempt charges against four policemen accused of publicly flogging Muslim men in the Kheda district in October last year on account of an alleged violation of DK Basu guidelines.

It may further be noted that the order of framing contempt charges was passed by the bench after perusing a report of the CJM Court in Nadiad filed in August 2023 identifying 4 of the 14 policemen accused in the incident including a Local Crime Branch Inspector (AV. Parmar), Sub-Inspector (D.B. Kumavat), Head Constable (Kanaksingh Laxman Singh) and a Constable (Raju Rameshbhai Dabhi).

Earlier, in July this year, the HC had directed the CJM concerned to analyze the pen drives and other electronic evidence including videos relating to the incident. The direction was made in a plea moved by 5 members of an affected family seeking contempt action against accused Police officers.

A group of young men were reportedly brought near a pole, where they were subjected to physical abuse.

The Police action was allegedly in the aftermath of the communal clash in Undhela village situated in Matar Taluka of Kheda district. It is alleged that some intruders pelted stones at the crowd during Navratri celebrations. At least 40 persons were arrested in the incident.

In a previous hearing, the High Court had asked the state government as to whether any law permitted that ‘an accused can be tied up to a pole and beaten up in full public view?’

In January this year, the Gujarat Government submitted before the High Court that it had found 5 policemen, including a police inspector, prima facie guilty in connection with the case of flogging.