Orissa High Court Imposes 50K Cost On An Investigating Officer For Non-Production Of Case Diary

The Orissa High Court recently imposed Rs.50,000/- cost on the Investigating Officer of Jaipatna Police Station (investigating a criminal case) for non-production of the case diary.

The Bench of Justice S. Pujahari has directed the probe officer to deposit the amount before the concerned District Legal Services Authority

Earlier on 8 September 2021, the High Court had directed the Superintendent of Police, Kalahandi, to produce the case diary in the matter and to an action taken against the Investigating Officer of Jaipatna Police Station and to file a report in this regard.

However, despite Court's order, no report was filed by the Superintendent of Police, Kalahandi and therefore, the Court also issued a notice to the Superintendent of Police to show cause as to why appropriate contempt shall not be initiated against him for non-compliance of the Court's order dated 8th September 2021 so also the Investigating Officer of Jaipatna Police Station.

Further, listing the case on September 24, 2021, the Court directed that if the show cause affidavits along with the case diary are not received, then coercive steps shall be taken against the Superintendent of Police, Kalahandi, and the Investigating Officer of Jaipatna Police Station to secure their attendance in person along with the case diary before this Court.

However, the order dated September 24, 2021, is not in the public domain right now.

Lastly, the Court directed the counsel for the State shall also communicate a copy of this order to the Director of General of Police, Odisha and the Home Secretary to Government of Odisha, for appraisal of the same and the manner of defiance of Court's order by the police officer, as in many cases the same is being done.

Case title - Sujit Sahu v. State of Odisha

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