The Supreme Court on Thursday (September 25, 2025) castigated the Madhya Pradesh government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for failing to arrest two police officers allegedly responsible for the July 2024 custodial death of 25-year-old Deva Pardhi . The court said that the failure to comply with its May 15 directions amounted to “aggravated contempt”.

“More than four months have passed, and the direction of the court has not been complied with. It appears that you are protecting the officers,” a Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan told the State’s counsel.

The court was hearing a contempt plea filed by the kin of the deceased, alleging wilful disobedience of the May 15 order that had transferred the investigation from the Madhya Pradesh Police to the CBI.

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