Absconding TI in Deva Pardi death case surrenders:Arrested at Shivpuri police station as SC deadline of 8 October approaches

TI Sanjeet Mavai, absconding in the death case of Deva Pardi from Guna, surrenders at Badarwas police station in Shivpuri on Sunday evening. Both CBI and police are currently not commenting, but Shivpuri police have informed CBI and Guna police. Deva Pardi (25) of Bilakhedi was to marry on July 15, 2024, in Guna. On July 14 at 4:30 PM, police reached the village and took Deva and his uncle Gangaram in the wedding tractor to recover an item in a theft case. Deva Pardi dies in custody On July 14 evening, Deva Pardi’s family was informed by the district hospital that he had been brought to the post-mortem room. They learned he had died in police custody. Following this, many Pardhi community women arrived at the hospital, and Deva’s aunt and fiancée attempted self-immolation with petrol but were saved by police. A women allege that Deva Pardi and his uncle were beaten at Myana police station, leading to his death. On July 17, they protested at the Collectorate, even stripping in protest. An FIR was registered against 7–8 policemen under sections of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and assault. Deva’s mother, Ansura Bai, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court. FIR against policemen after magisterial inquiry Court directed to arrest accused within one month Deva Pardi’s mother, Hansura Bai, filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court, which on May 15 directed the CBI to arrest the accused within a month. When the arrests did not happen, she filed a contempt petition heard on September 24–26. The Supreme Court strongly reprimanded the state and CBI for inaction, saying excuses of helplessness were unacceptable and emphasizing no legal restriction prevented the arrest. Arrests and surrender After the September 26 hearing, the Court gave time till October 8. The next day, absconding SI Uttam Singh was arrested. TI Sanjeet Mavai later surrendered on Sunday evening at Badarwas police station, Shivpuri, after which Shivpuri police informed CBI and Guna police. The CBI team is expected to take him into custody late at night.