The Madhya Pradesh High Court has given huge relief to former Manpur police station in-charge Lokendra Singh Hihore in the controversial case of IAS farmhouse gambling. He argued that the suspension order was arbitrary, retaliatory and unsustainable and the court agreed.
The case is connected with a gambling racket operating at a farm-house of an IAS officer in Manpur area of Madhya Pradesh. Following the incident, former TI Lokendra Singh Hihore had been suspended by the state government. During the hearing, however, the High Court noted the suspension had “more of a punitive than administrative nature.
In its harsh comments, the court calls the suspension order “completely arbitrary, cosmetic and revengeful.” The bench further observed that the officer appeared to have been “punished” for giving “factual information” in the FIR and that he had allegedly refused to act under outside pressure.
The court also slammed the state government for its action, noting that it had not given a satisfactory response during the proceedings. The judgment cautioned that such extrajudicial acts against police officers may instill apprehension among police officers in the process of doing their job in an honest and independent manner.
The High Court noted that the use of the power of discipline should not be as a form of intimidation particularly against officers who are acting lawfully. Such actions “may affect the morale of police officers and result in unfair investigation,” it added.
The order was rescinded and the ruling is being hailed as a major blow to the state administration in the high-profile gambling case. The decision has also sparked another controversy about police corruption and political interference in the investigation of high-profile cases.