In a significant development the Madhya Pradesh police have established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the mysterious disappearance of OBC leader Man Singh Patel from Sagar, following a directive from the Supreme Court. The move comes eight years after Patel went missing under suspicious circumstances, which he had previously linked to a dispute with a sitting minister in the state.
The SIT will be led by Bhopal’s Inspector General of Police (Rural) Abhay Singh, with Sehore Superintendent of Police Mayank Awasthi and Assistant Inspector General of Police Anurag Sujaniya serving as key members.
This action follows an order from the Supreme Court on August 6, which instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to establish a high-level investigation team to look into the case. The Court criticized the Madhya Pradesh Police’s initial handling of the case, noting that only a missing person report was filed in 2016, with a formal First Information Report (FIR) registered much later in 2023. The earlier SIT, which comprised lower-ranking officers, was accused of conducting a superficial investigation, making little to no progress.
The case, which has garnered significant attention, was brought back into the spotlight by the OBC Mahasabha, who filed a petition expressing their concerns about the possible involvement of a sitting minister and his associates in Patel’s disappearance. The petition led to the Supreme Court’s intervention, which has now mandated the SIT to thoroughly investigate the case and report on Patel’s whereabouts within four months.
Man Singh Patel’s son, Sitaram Patel, has been vocal about the circumstances surrounding his father’s disappearance. He alleges that his father went missing in 2016 after filing a complaint against a prominent leader regarding illegal encroachment and the construction of a college on their ancestral land in Sagar district.
The formation of this new SIT brings renewed hope for justice in a case that has been shrouded in mystery for nearly a decade. The investigation is expected to shed light on the events leading to Patel’s disappearance and hold accountable those responsible.
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