Bombay High Court Directs Thane Joint CP to Explain Flawed Case Diary

The Bombay High Court has directed the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Thane, to submit a detailed reply in a writ petition after discovering that the case diary in the matter had been maintained in violation of statutory provisions and state police directives.

A division bench comprising Justice A. S. Gadkari and Justice Kamal Khata issued the direction on August 21 during the hearing of a writ petition filed by advocate Purshottam Khanchandani. The petitioner is the husband of activist lawyer Advocate Satita Khanchandani, who died by suicide last year.

During the proceedings, the bench flagged notable shortcomings in the documentation and handling of the investigation records. The court observed that its review of the case diary revealed non-compliance with statutory standards established under criminal procedure.

"Perusal of Case Diary of the present case indicates that it is maintained contrary to Section 172(1-B) of Cr.P.C. and the Circulars dated 6th December 2018 and 12th February 2024, issued by the Office of the Director General of Police, Maharashtra State," the bench observed.

The judges also noted administrative delays in the proceedings. The matter had previously been taken up on December 11 and December 23, 2025, occasions on which the Assistant Public Prosecutor had requested time to secure instructions from the Commissioner of Police, Thane. The court placed on record that those instructions had still not been received by the prosecutor.

Highlighting the gravity of the alleged offence alongside the deficiencies found in the case diary, the division bench ruled that a comprehensive response from a senior police official was necessary.

The court ordered the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Thane, to file a detailed reply to the petition within two weeks. The bench has scheduled the matter for its next hearing on September 11, 2026.