COURT RECOMMENDS DEPARTMENTAL ACTION AGAINST THE INDUSTRIAL PS IO

COURT RECOMMENDS DEPARTMENTAL ACTION AGAINST THE INDUSTRIAL PS IO

26-JUNE-ENG 6

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR--------------------------The court of Special Judge (POCSO) Amit Kumar Sharma in Buxar has taken a stern view of the gross negligence displayed during the investigation of a POCSO case and ordered the recovery of ₹5,000 from the salary of the concerned Investigating Officer. Additionally, a recommendation has been made for departmental action against him.

The matter pertains to Buxar Industrial Police Station Case No. 153/2021 (*State vs. Dhanji Ojha*), which is currently under hearing. According to the charge sheet submitted to the court, the investigating officer had prepared the charge sheet on August 28, 2023, but it was filed in court only on June 19, 2026—meaning the charge sheet remained pending for approximately two years and ten months.

In an order passed on June 22, 2026, the court noted that despite such a long delay, the investigating officer offered no explanation. The court further remarked that it had to intervene multiple times to ensure the charge sheet was filed. A progress report had been sought on January 16, 2026, but none was submitted. Subsequently, an order was issued on May 13, 2026, requiring the personal appearance of the Station House Officer (SHO) in court, following which the charge sheet was filed.

During the hearing, the court also observed that a photocopy of the victim's medical report had been placed on record instead of the original, and no reason was provided for the failure to produce the original report.

In its order, the court stated that the proceedings of the case were hampered for nearly three years due to the negligence and irresponsible attitude of the investigating officer, Abhay Kumar Singh. Viewing this as a sign of serious apathy towards the judicial process, the court imposed exemplary costs of ₹5,000 on the prosecution and directed that this amount be recovered from the investigating officer's salary and deposited with the Nazarat of the Civil Court, Buxar, within 15 days.

The court has entrusted the Superintendent of Police (SP), Buxar, with the responsibility of ensuring compliance with the order and directed that an action-taken report be submitted. Furthermore, while recommending departmental action against the investigating officer, the court ordered that copies of the order be sent to the Director General of Police (DGP) of Bihar, the Buxar SP, and the concerned officer.