SC lambasts MP govt, asks DGP to arrest murder accused

SC on Friday lambasted the Madhya Pradesh government for failing to arrest the husband of a BSP MLA who has been named in an FIR filed in the murder of a Congress leader.

A two-judge bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud also ordered the state police chief to arrest Govind Singh Thakur, the husband of Rambai Thakur, immediately and report compliance within two weeks. “… because he is a spouse of an MLA, all steps have been taken to protect him from the coercive arm of the law,” the court said. “Is there rule of law in Madhya Pradesh? This is not, rule of the jungle? Why hasn’t he been arrested? Just because he is the husband of a sitting MLA you can’t arrest him,” Justice Chandrachud asked.

Justice MR Shah, the other judge on the bench, wondered why the state was at his mercy. “You then declare that you can’t do your duty,” he said.


Govind Singh Thakur was named in the FIR over the murder of Devendra Chaurasia, who had joined Congress after leaving BSP. The murder occurred when Thakur was out on bail in another murder case.

The state claims he is absconding. Both judges also expressed distress over the complaint of the additional sessions judge, who had passed the arrest warrant against Thakur, that he was threatened by the police superintendent of Damoh.