New Delhi, A Delhi court has slammed the city police for what it called an “absolutely perfunctory and mere eyewash” report in an organised-crime case, in which two accused allegedly continued to commit heinous offences, including murder, for years after the stringent MCOCA was invoked against them but were arrested only in 2026.
“The report of the DCP, Outer North district, is absolutely perfunctory and a mere eyewash. The court noted that Mukesh was involved in around 20 FIRs, including two for murder and one for attempt to murder, when the MCOCA was invoked. After that, he was allegedly named in eight more FIRs between 2021 and 2024, including for murder, attempt to murder, robbery and kidnapping. He was arrested only on February 9, 2026, by Assistant Commissioner of Police Rakesh Kumar, after the investigation was assigned to him on September 25, 2025. Pardeep alias Guri, the court noted, was also involved in numerous cases, and, according to the chargesheet, committed a number of heinous offences in 2020 after the MCOCA was invoked against him. He was also named in two FIRs registered in 2024, yet was arrested only on April 16, 2026.
Special Judge Gaurav Rao also sent a copy of the order dated October 5 to the Delhi police commissioner, saying the matter “calls for a detailed inquiry and appropriate action against all the erring officials/investigating officers”. The court said three other accused Vinod alias Sonu alias Praveen alias Khalifa, Pardeep alias Anil alias Salamuddin and Vikas alias Vicky alias Pankaj are yet to be arrested and the investigation against them remains incomplete despite the lapse of more than six years. The judge said on the previous hearing, the court had sought to know whether Mukesh was on bail or in judicial custody when the MCOCA was invoked against him and until his arrest. It had also asked for details of other cases and explanations from the investigating officers, he said. The judge pointed out that the report submitted by the deputy commissioner of police , Outer North district, was “absolutely silent” on these aspects. The report failed to address the query raised by this court and though lapses as well as the considerable delay is writ large from the record, the additional DCP said that ‘police officials have made best efforts in the present case and are still making their best efforts’,” the judge added.
