[Police Brutality During Lockdown]: Four Policemen Who Assaulted Deceased Man Identified Through CCTV Footage; State Informs Bombay HC

In a significant development, the State has informed the Bombay High Court that four policemen who assaulted a 22-year-old man in Vile Parle on March 29 during lockdown, have been identified through CCTV footage. Division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Anuja Prabhudessai were hearing a PIL filed by a lawyer Firdaus Irani who highlighted cases of police brutality during the lockdown seeking directions to the police. On Thursday, a status report was submitted stating that four policemen have been identified in relation to the allegedly fatal assault. Moreover, appearing on behalf of the State, Government Pleader Poornima Kantharia submitted that she has personally viewed the CCTV footage and did not find any member of the public being part of any mob assaulting the deceased; on the contrary, the four policemen, referred to above, are seen to have used fiber lathis in a bid to discipline the deceased. However, GP Kantharia pointed out that whether the deceased succumbed to the injuries inflicted by reason of such assault by fiber lathis is a matter which needs further investigation.