In a brief but eventful hearing on Tuesday, the Supreme Court took a sharp look at allegations concerning the conduct of senior police officers in Madhya Pradesh. What began as a routine plea by Anwar Hussain quickly widened after an intervention application brought fresh material before the bench. The judges, visibly concerned, said the issues “touch the very confidence of the public,” prompting them to pull up several officers and bring them into the case.
Background
The matter reached the Supreme Court after an order passed by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in March this year. While the main petition related to Anwar Hussain’s criminal case, the hearing took a different turn when an applicant filed an intervention request-arguing that certain events involving police officials were directly relevant and needed judicial attention.
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The bench, comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and K. Vinod Chandran, said the new information could not be brushed aside just like that. “These aren’t small procedural slips; they go to the heart of how authority is being exercised,” one counsel remarked outside court.
Court’s Observations
Inside the courtroom, the judges heard counsel from all sides, including the Additional Solicitor General and senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, who supported the intervention.
After examining the application and accompanying documents, the bench said the material appeared significant. “The bench observed, ‘The issues raised concern basic and core questions about the conduct of the police, exercised under the authority of their positions. Such matters affect public confidence directly.’”
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The Court noted that the affidavit submitted by the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (A.D.C.P.) itself showed that he had been informed of the allegations only a day earlier. This, too, seemed to trouble the judges, who questioned the delay and the internal communication gaps within the police hierarchy.
To ensure transparency, the bench ordered that the A.D.C.P. and the Station House Officer involved be added as respondents. Later, it went a step further and brought the Commissioner of Police, Indore, into the case as well.
Court’s Decision
By the end of the hearing, the Supreme Court allowed the intervention plea and formally impleaded the applicant as respondent no. 2. The two police officers were added as respondents no. 3 and 4, and the Commissioner of Police as respondent no. 5.
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The Court directed all newly added respondents to file personal affidavits addressing every allegation raised in the intervention application, along with the broader concerns about police conduct. The matter has been listed for further hearing on 9 December 2025.
The order concludes at this stage, with the Supreme Court awaiting detailed responses from the officers before taking the next steps.
Case Title: Anwar Hussain vs. State of Madhya Pradesh
Case Number: SLP (Crl.) No. 14087/2025
Case Type: Special Leave Petition (Criminal) – seeking admission
Decision / Order Date: 25 November 2025
