Tribal Woman Assault Case: Gujarat High Court Takes On Record Sealed Cover Report Of Concerned Police Superintendent

The Gujarat government on Wednesday (February 12) submitted to the High Court in sealed cover– a report and affidavit by Dahod's Superintendent of Police on an incident pertaining to the alleged assault of a tribal woman who was stated to be disrobed, paraded and dragged by a motorcycle in the district.

Notably, on February 3 the court had taken Suo-Motu notice of news reports on the incident terming it as "outrageous" and noted how the circulation of a purported video of the incident on "unfettered" social media has wide ramifications. The court had then registered the matter as PIL and ordered the State Authorities, including the Home Department, the Social Justice and Empowerment Department and the District Superintendent of Police, Dahod District to submit report on actions taken in the matter. It had also asked them to apprise on the issue of lack of restraint or check on social media in such cases. 

During the hearing on Wednesday, a division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi was told by the State's counsel that the report and affidavit of the Superintendent of Police Dahod may be permitted to be tendered in a sealed cover. 

"The reason for tendering in sealed cover is the sensitivity. May I also be permitted to tender affidavit of home department, who has taken steps to curb such incidents in future. The SP's affidavit if my learned friend can read it and give back," the counsel said. 

Taking note of the sensitivity because of which the authority has filed the report in sealed cover for the court's perusal, advocate Pitamber Abhichandani appointed as amicus curiae, said that to assist the court he may not need to go through the same. He said that two other affidavits have been filed as per the directions in compliance of the coordinate bench's directions. 

The court thereafter orally asked what was in the sealed cover and was informed by the State's counsel that the "affidavit of the SP along with the report" were in sealed cover. 

The court thereafter asked the amicus to go through the affidavits which are not in sealed cover. 

It thereafter in its order dictated, "The affidavit of the Superintendent of Police Dahod filed along with his report about the incident filed in sealed cover by Ms. Maithili Mehta learned AGP is taken on record. Two affidavits in reply dated 12-2-2025 of the Under Secretary, home department, Government of Gujarat and the Joint Secretary Social Justice and Empowerment department filed today in court are also taken on record". 

The court noted that the copies of the affidavit of the Under Secretary, Home Department and the Joint Secretary Social Justice and Empowerment department have been served upon the amicus curiae, who may go through the same to make submissions on the next date fixed. 

The court said that the SP's report be again kept in sealed cover and be placed before it. 

The matter is next listed on March 7. 

Case title: SUO MOTU  V/S  STATE OF GUJARAT THROUGH THE SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT & ORS.

R/WPPIL/7/2025