Allegations of Police Inaction and Hospital Negligence Prompt Court-Monitored Probe
The Supreme Court of India has mandated a court-monitored, time-bound investigation by an independent central agency or a Special Investigation Team into the brutal sexual assault and murder of a four-year-old girl in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. This decision comes after a writ petition highlighted shocking allegations of police inaction and misconduct, alongside refusals by private hospitals to treat the victim.
On March 16, 2026, the father of the victim reported that his daughter was taken by a neighbor under the pretense of buying her a chocolate. When the child did not return, a search led to the discovery of her unconscious and bleeding in a field. Despite the severity of her condition, two private hospitals refused to admit her, resulting in her being declared dead upon arrival at a government hospital in Ghaziabad.
The local police compounded the family's anguish by allegedly assaulting and detaining them instead of immediately registering a case. An FIR was lodged only the following day, under Sections 103(1) and 238(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, equivalent to Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC. Notably, charges under the POCSO Act or Section 64 of the BNS, corresponding to Section 376 of the IPC, were not initially included despite clear indications of sexual assault.
The Supreme Court has directed the Commissioner of Police, Ghaziabad, and the SHO of Nandgram Police Station to produce all original records related to the case. Additionally, it has instructed the police and hospitals to ensure the non-disclosure of the victim's identity and to refrain from taking coercive actions against the petitioner and his family.
The case will be reviewed on April 13, 2026, as the standing counsel for the State of Uttar Pradesh is tasked with submitting a status report. This high-profile directive underscores the judiciary's commitment to ensuring justice and accountability in cases involving heinous crimes against minors.
Statutory provision(s): Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 Sections 103(1), 238(a), 64; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 Section 130.
XXX v. State of Uttar Pradesh, (SC) : Law Finder Doc id # 2880847
