The Supreme Court on Thursday (September 11, 2025) said that when police officers wear uniforms, they should abandon their personal and religious inclination and prejudice. Along with this, the court formed a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the alleged murder case during the 2023 communal riots in Akola, Maharashtra.

Accusing the Maharashtra police of dutylessness and gross negligence of not registering an FIR in the case, a bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma directed the state’s home department secretary to constitute a SIT of senior police officers of Hindu and Muslim communities, who will register an FIR and investigate.

The bench said, ‘There is no need to say that when members of the police force wear their uniforms, they have to abandon their personal inclination and prejudice, whether they are religious, racial, racist or any other type. He should work with full devotion and honesty towards his position and his uniforms related to his uniform. Unfortunately, this did not happen in this matter.

Skills started when social media posts went viral

In May 2023, a religious post about Prophet Mohammad in the old urban area of ​​Akola started on social media after the clashes started. In this incident, a person named Vilas Mahadevrao Gaikwad was killed and eight people, including the petitioner of the case, were injured. According to petitioner Mohammad Afzal Mohammad Sharif, four people attacked Gaikwad with swords, iron pipes and other items.

The petitioner said that the four attackers damaged his vehicle and attacked his head and neck with his weapons. He was admitted to the hospital and the police recorded his statement, but no FIR was registered.

However, the High Court had dismissed his petition, doubting his honesty. On the other hand, the Maharashtra Police argued that Sharif’s claim to be an eyewitness never proved during the investigation. It was also claimed that he was reported to be admitted to the hospital, but when an officer went there, the petitioner was not in a position to speak.

SC SIT inquiry report sought in three months

Taking a strong rebuke to the police officers, the Supreme Court directed the Secretary to initiate appropriate disciplinary action against all the police officers who are negligent towards their duties.

The bench said, ‘Measures should also be taken to give this instruction and sensitive to all the employees of the police department, what the law expects from them in the discharge of their duties. The investigation report of the SIT to be constituted as directed by this court will be presented before this court within three months from today.

Police should have investigated the allegations of 17-year-old eyewitness- Supreme Court

The Supreme Court said, “In the affidavits filed by the police inspector of Akola’s Old City Police Station, an attempt was made to show the intentions of the petitioner and the High Court had voluntarily accepted it and took action on it, but he could not be persuaded to agree at this level.”

The bench said, “The police had to investigate the truth of the specific allegations made by a 17 -year -old boy, who claimed that he was an eyewitness to the murder case of Vilas Mahadevrao Gaikwad.”

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