Cop acquitted in custodial death case after 31 years

Sessions court failed to consider critical evidence from the inquiry, absolved Savli

- Urvi Mahaj

Thirty-one years after a custodial death in a theft case, the Bombay High Court has discharged police sub-inspector (PSI) Siddappa Savli, who was the investigating officer in the case.

Justice Milind Jadhav observed that a departmental inquiry, which included testimony from eyewitnesses, had exonerated him. The HC was hearing an appeal filed by Savli, through Advocate Niranjan Mundargi, challenging the order of the sessions court of October 25, 2002, rejecting his discharge plea on the ground that he was the investigating officer in the theft case.