The Gujarat High Court on Thursday directed the special investigation team (SIT) probing the infamous Bopal custodial death case to submit a probe report by December 28 after thoroughly investigating the role of ‘others’ in the case. The direction came from the single judge bench of Justice Sonia Gokani during the hearing of a plea filed by the brother of the victim seeking a fair probe in the matter. The court had earlier summoned the deputy superintendent of Ahmedabad rural police KT Kamaria, who is heading the SIT, on Wednesday, to inquire about the developments in the probe. Kamaria had then apprised the court that the three special operations group (SOG) personnel who had allegedly tortured the victim—Surubha Jhala—on the fateful day have been arrested. The court had also taken the investigation papers to scrutinise the same. During Thursday’s hearing, Justice Gokani clarified that she had gone through the case record and directed the investigation officer not to confine the probe to the three arrested SOG personnel. The court said the investigation should also consider the roles played by other accused. It also clarified that all evidence, including scientific evidence, should be properly taken into consideration in the probe. Kamaria had earlier informed the court that under the oral instructions of the superintendent of police, the victim was held by the local crime branch (LCB) in a Rs 2.5 crore gold theft case and brought to Bopal. He clarified that the victim was kept as a suspect and not arrested. The LCB interrogated him and then special operations group (SOG) took over the probe of the gold theft. The police officer had stated that three SOG personnel tortured the victim in the midnight and when his condition deteriorated, he was taken to the primary health centre, where he was declared brought dead.

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