The Chief Justice, Ramesh Sinha, has strongly criticized police officers regarding the actions against car-borne youths performing stunts on Masturi Road. The irate court has ordered that the 18 cars seized by the police will not be released without the court’s permission. The court expressed its displeasure with the police action, stating that it appears the police’s wrath falls only on the poor, middle class, and Dalits. However, when the offender is a wealthy individual, whether in terms of power, wealth, or political support, police officers become toothless tigers. The Advocate General, Prafull Bharat, informed the division bench that the police had registered offenses under various provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and seized the vehicles used for the stunts. Recommendations have been made to cancel the car owners’ driving licenses. The division bench also noted that it was surprising that the court had taken cognizance of such incidents on February 3rd and various affidavits were filed on different dates regarding the steps taken by the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Chhattisgarh, to prevent the menace of hooliganism on the roads. The Chief Justice stated during a PIL hearing that it seems the police’s wrath is reserved for the poor, middle class, and Dalits. When the offender is a wealthy person, regardless of their influence, police officers become ineffective, and such offenders are often let off with minor fines, their vehicles returned to them. The court questioned why police officers are refraining from registering crimes against such offenders under the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 2023, or any other stringent law, who endanger the lives of other commuters with their irresponsible and negligent actions. The court emphasized that the action taken by the police against such individuals should serve as a lesson for life. In the current case, the police action is merely a show. Therefore, the court deemed it appropriate to direct the concerned authorities that the 18 cars seized by the Masturi police will not be released without the court’s permission. The division bench further instructed the Chief Secretary of the Chhattisgarh government to file an affidavit informing the court about the actions taken against the offenders. The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 23, 2025. The division bench directed the state government’s lawyer to immediately send a copy of the order to the Chief Secretary, Chhattisgarh Government, Raipur, for information and necessary action.
The incident involved some youths who were on their way to a birthday celebration at a farmhouse located in Gram Lawar. They were performing stunts on the Masturi Road, hanging out of the windows and sunroofs of their moving cars, driving recklessly, and endangering the lives of other commuters. They also created a traffic jam on National Highway 49. Some other people passing by recorded their actions on their mobile phones and informed the police. The police took immediate action and seized 18 cars from the Masturi area. Restrictive action was also taken against the individuals found in those cars.
