Agartala, June 17: In a significant development, the Tripura High Court on Wednesday reportedly set aside a previous affidavit submitted by the State Government in connection with the alleged custodial torture of a youth inside East Agartala Police Station and directed the government to take appropriate action against a Home Department Under Secretary for allegedly filing a misleading affidavit before the court.
The case relates to allegations made by Saikat Shahnawaz (also referred to as Saikat Debnath in court proceedings), who claimed that he was illegally detained and subjected to physical and sexual assault inside East Agartala Police Station on April 4.
Addressing the media after the hearing, advocate Purushottam Roy Barman said a Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted under the High Court’s direction, submitted its report before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Justice Sabyasachi Datta Purkayastha/Arindam Lodh? (court details to be officially confirmed).
According to Roy Barman, the SIT report found evidence that Saikat had indeed been brought inside the police station and subjected to torture. The findings reportedly contradicted an earlier inquiry that had concluded no such incident took place within the police station premises.
The advocate further alleged that a previous affidavit filed by an Under Secretary of the Home Department claimed that no custodial torture had occurred and that Saikat was arrested for disturbing public order based on a complaint lodged by an Agartala Municipal Corporation official. However, the court reportedly found serious discrepancies in that version.
“The High Court has rejected the earlier affidavit and directed that the concerned Under Secretary should not file any further affidavit in this case. The Home Department has also been asked to take appropriate action against the official for allegedly misleading the court and suppressing facts,” Roy Barman said.
The court was also informed that Saikat’s arrest itself appeared to be unlawful. A police sub-inspector has already been suspended in connection with the case and had appeared before the court during Wednesday’s hearing. The court reportedly indicated that contempt proceedings against the officer would continue.
The SIT investigation has already led to the arrest of Agartala Municipal Corporation Task Force employee Rabindranath Ghosh and SPO Joy Debnath, both accused in the alleged assault case. They are currently in police custody.
The High Court also questioned how civilians could allegedly carry out an assault, including sexual abuse, inside a police station while police personnel remained present. The court sought details of the action taken against officers who were on duty at the time of the incident.
Roy Barman described the matter as a serious assault on the rule of law and said the case exposed systemic failures in policing and administration. He alleged that despite complaints made by the victim’s family to senior police officials, no action was taken until the matter reached the High Court.
The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for June 23, and the court has directed the Agartala Municipal Corporation Commissioner to file an affidavit.
The case continues to draw significant public attention as the High Court monitors the investigation into the alleged custodial torture and the conduct of officials involved.
