High Court Orders Military Hospital Checkup for “Brutally Assaulted” Senior
Case No: W.P (Cr.) (DB) (HB) No.165 of 2026
By Sandhya kaika
The Jharkhand High Court has taken a stern view of alleged custodial torture by the Bokaro Police, ordering an independent medical examination of a victim at the Military Hospital, Namkum. The Division Bench, comprising Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad, described the police conduct as “audacious” and “contemptuous”.
Key Developments
The petitioner, Rekha Devi, alleged that her father-in-law, Samapad Mahato, was brutally assaulted by Bokaro Police and coerced into making false confessions.
Medical reports from a private neurosurgeon revealed serious injuries, including a “craniotomy defect” in the brain and a “chronic lacunar infarct”.
A new affidavit revealed that another individual, Taroni Mahato, is being threatened by police with false FIRs to testify that no assault occurred.
The Court shifted the medical evaluation to the Military Hospital to ensure impartiality. The Director General of Police (DGP) has removed the concerned Officer-in-Charge from active service and investigation duties. A One-Man Committee headed by a DIG rank officer has been formed to probe the matter.
The Court has pinned personal accountability on the Superintendent of Police (SP), Bokaro, for the safety of the petitioner and her family. The DGP is scheduled to appear virtually for the next hearing on April 15, 2026, to submit a progress report.
