High Court sends accused to hospital after family claims police assault

The Bombay High Court's medical officer confirmed the accused's injuries, and the court subsequently ordered his hospitalisation.

In Short

• Magistrate remands accused despite assault injuries
• High Court sends him to hospital after medical officer confirms assault
• Family alleges he was picked up wrongfully

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday ordered the hospitalisation of an accused who was allegedly subjected to a brutal assault by police officers during his arrest. Citing a report from the High Court's medical officer, the bench also directed a further, detailed examination to assess his health.

The order came a day after the accused, Anil Rathod, was produced before the Magistrate's court and remanded to police custody on November 5. According to Rathod's counsel, he informed the court that police officers had assaulted him with a belt, leaving his back severely bruised.

Lawyer Priyanka Dubey requested the Magistrate's court to personally examine Rathod. However, the court noted that police had taken him to a hospital for a medical check-up within 24 hours of his arrest, and the doctor’s report did not indicate any signs of assault injuries. Subsequently, he was placed in police custody.

On the same day, Rathod's brother, Sunil, filed a petition with the High Court. His lawyers, Nimay Dave and Megha Gupta, claimed that police had initially detained and assaulted Rathod on November 4, releasing him briefly after a brutal encounter. Rathod reportedly sought medical attention after this, but police apprehended him again later that day, formally recording his arrest.

The police action, according to the lawyers, was related to a cheating case involving Rs 1.3 crore allegedly linked to Rathod’s father. His lawyers argued that Rathod was not even named in the FIR.

After examining photographs of Rathod's injuries, the High Court bench of Justices Arif Doctor and Somsekhar Sundaresan summoned Maharashtra Police officers to court. In response to the “serious and grave allegations of physical abuse,” the court directed the High Court’s Medical Officer to examine Rathod. The officer confirmed the injuries and recommended further treatment.

The court has directed that Rathod be treated at the state-run JJ Hospital, where he will undergo necessary examinations and receive appropriate care.