Public flogging of handcuffed men: Gujarat government issues notice to senior IPS officer

The Gujarat government informed the Gujarat High Court on Thursday (September 17) that a show-cause notice had been issued to an IPS officer who is accused of publicly flogging, humiliating, and parading handcuffed persons. This sets in motion disciplinary proceedings against the officer.

Government Pleader G H Virk made the submission before a Division Bench of HC Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D N Ray, which is hearing a public interest petition (PIL) about the alleged incident that took place in Surat on July 14. The state informed the court that the Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) had “concurred with the findings of a preliminary inquiry” by the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Surat City.

The report of the inquiry had been placed before the court in a sealed cover earlier. A month ago, the High Court had asked why the officer, Rajdeepsinh Nakum, who was Deputy Commissioner of Police in Surat city at the time of the incident, was still in his post.

During a hearing on August 14, the court had verbally told the state that “the least you must do” was to transfer Nakum out of Surat. Videos of the alleged incident, which went viral on social media, purportedly showed Nakum and 15-20 other police officers parading four handcuffed men on the road and repeatedly assaulting them with lathis.