Allahabad High Court Holds SHO, IO Guilty of Contempt for Ignoring CJM’s Orders

The Allahabad High Court held two Uttar Pradesh police officers, the SHO and IO, guilty of contempt for deliberately ignoring repeated directions of a Chief Judicial Magistrate.

The CJM had ordered the officers to produce CCTV footage from the police station to verify allegations of illegal detention, but the officers failed to comply despite several warnings.

The HC emphasised that when performing judicial functions, a judicial officer’s authority prevails over administrative and police authorities.

The Court ordered the officers to remain in custody in court until the rising of the court and directed the State to pay ₹1 lakh compensation for the victim’s illegal three-day detention, recoverable from the officials.

[Sanu @ Rashid v. State of U.P.]