Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 15 Jul: In a recent judgement, Dehradun’s Chief Judicial Magistrate has issued a scathing order against police authorities for repeated failures in investigating a criminal case involving allegations of animal cruelty, conspiracy and attempted offences, directing that a fresh inquiry be conducted under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
The case, registered as Crime No. 23/2025 at Dalanwala police station, was filed by petitioner Mala Malhotra under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 429 (mischief against animals) and 511 (attempt to commit offence) of the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Malhotra has consistently alleged that successive investigating officers mishandled evidence and ignored her objections, despite repeated protest petitions. Petitioner Malhotra had informed the court that the first investigating officer, Aswal, had failed to act on witness statements and video evidence she submitted. She complained to senior police officials, even seeking suspension of the officer, but no corrective action followed. Later, when the case was handed to IO Deepak Gairola, she alleged that he wasted an entire year without conducting proper investigation. According to her, Gairola dismissed her concerns, telling her he had “too many investigations” and no time, while instead involving her in personal matters relating to his own pets. Malhotra said she repeatedly pressed him to act, but he filed a “false final report” within days, claiming there was nothing substantial in the case.
She further alleged that Gairola ignored clear evidence of cruelty to dogs found near BJP Mahanagar offices, Kamal Restaurant and other public places, and failed to record witness statements properly. Despite her insistence, she was never given a copy of the final closure report, nor was she called for proper examination. This prompted her to lodge fresh complaints with the court, accusing the officer of collusion and deliberate neglect.
Court records confirm that earlier judicial directions in May 2025 had already ordered reinvestigation, but final reports continued to be filed without informing the petitioner. On 9 June 2026, Chief Judicial Magistrate Ravi Prakash reprimanded IO Deepak Gairola and directed the SSP Dehradun to cancel the flawed final report and appoint a competent officer for fresh investigation. The order also warned that senior officers would be held accountable if compliance was not ensured, and copies were dispatched to higher police authorities for immediate action.
The accused in the case, Ajaypal, remains under scrutiny as the court has ordered that proper reports be filed against him in accordance with Section 193(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which mandates submission of prosecution reports to the magistrate once investigation is complete.
The question that arises is why such complaints are regularly ignored by the police and despite court orders, no serious probe is carried out. Now that the CJM court has slammed the police for lax probe and has ordered a fresh probe, it still remains to be seen, how it progresses and where does it lead to.
