Why four Haryana Police officers are being tried in the Prince murder case?

From false confessions to fabricated evidence, here’s how 2017 child murder case has taken a dramatic turn with the trial of cops who allegedly framed an innocent man.What is the Prince murder case?On September 8, 2017, a horrifying incident unfolded at Ryan International School in Gurugram, where body of a seven-year-old boy named Pradhyuman Thakur, alias Prince, was discovered in the school toilet. The brutal killing of a young student within school premises stunned the nation and led to a frenzied demand for justice. The local police swiftly arrested Ashok Kumar, a school bus conductor, claiming he had confessed to the crime.Why was Ashok Kumar arrested?The Gurugram police, under intense pressure to show quick results, arrested Ashok Kumar on very day of the murder. They claimed that he had confessed to slitting the boy’s throat when the child resisted sexual assault. However, this so-called confession was later discredited by the CBI, and serious questions emerged over the integrity and legality of the police probe. Kumar’s arrest came before any substantial evidence had been gathered, sparking concerns about a possible rush to judgment.What did the CBI probe reveal?Once the CBI took over investigation following public outrage and a court order, it completely reversed findings of the local police. The central agency cleared Ashok Kumar of all charges and instead arrested a senior student of the same school, referred to as “Bholu”, for child’s murder. The CBI said the student committed murder in a desperate bid to postpone an upcoming parent-teacher meeting and an exam. This revelation highlighted glaring lapses in original police probe and raised questions over whether the real motive had been ignored in initial investigation.How did the police allegedly frame Ashok Kumar?According to the CBI’s detailed chargesheet, four police officers —DSP Birem Singh, Inspector Narinder Khatana, Sub-Inspector Shamsher Singh and Exemptee Sub-Inspector Subhash Chand—conspired to frame Ashok Kumar. The agency alleges that these officers tortured Kumar, including giving him electric shocks and administering injections, to extract a false confession. They are also accused of fabricating documents such as seizure memos and case diaries, some of which were backdated to create a false narrative implicating Kumar before he had even been questioned or named in the FIR. The charges also mention that the police pressurised witnesses and manipulated records to support their false claims.Is there evidence to support Ashok Kumar’s claims of torture?Yes, there is supporting evidence. A government doctor, who examined Kumar the day after his arrest, reported that his way of walking was abnormal and he required support to move—an observation consistent with physical trauma. Records show that Kumar visited the jail hospital on September 20, 2017, complaining of pain all over his body. The CBI used this and other testimonies to substantiate its claim that Kumar was subjected to third-degree torture while in police custody.Why are police officers being prosecuted now?Although the CBI filed its chargesheet in 2021, the case against officers remained stalled due to the Haryana Government’s refusal to grant prosecution sanction—a requirement for prosecuting public servants. The state cited lack of medical proof and claimed officers had merely erred in judgment. However, in January 2024, the Punjab and Haryana High Court overruled this decision, calling it arbitrary and ordered the government to make a fresh decision within one month. Despite this, the state did not act. As a result, the victim’s father moved the court again, arguing that no sanction was required since the acts in question were not part of officers’ official duties.What has court decided recently?On June 13, the CBI Special Judicial Magistrate Anil Kumar Yadav accepted the argument that the accused officers’ actions—ranging from torture to falsification of records—were not protected under official duties. The court ruled that there was no need for prior sanction to prosecute them and formally took cognisance of the case. All four officers have been summoned to appear before the court on July 15. The magistrate’s decision is seen as a critical milestone in holding those responsible for derailing justice to account.What charges are officers facing?The four officers are facing serious criminal charges including conspiracy, creating false records to implicate an innocent man, using physical coercion to extract confessions and criminal intimidation. If proven guilty, these offences could carry severe penalties, especially given the gravity of wrongfully accusing a man in a murder case.What is the significance of trial?This trial marks a turning point not only in the pursuit of justice for Prince and his family, but also in exposing the misuse of police power. For Ashok Kumar, it could be long-delayed vindication of his innocence and suffering. The outcome of this case could have lasting implications on how custodial torture and evidence fabrication are viewed and punished in India.

Why four Haryana Police officers are being tried in the Prince murder case?

Sheetal

Tribune News Service

Why four Haryana Police officers are being tried in the Prince murder case?

Sheetal

Tribune News Service

Unlock Premium Insights in This Article