4 lakh non-bailable warrants pending in Maharashtra

Alarmed to find over four lakh non-bailable warrants (NBW) pending for over a year with the police across Maharashtra, Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed advocate general Ravi Kadam to “devise a mechanism” between the judiciary and the government to find a solution.

In February, the court had asked the registrar general of HC to submit the number of pending NBWs issued by the district and magistrate courts in the state. As per an updated list, submitted this month by ML Tahiliyani, registrar (inspection), there are 89,914 pending NBWs in Mumbai, followed by Pune (45,347) and Yavatmal (37,423).

Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice AP Deshpande observed that judicial proceedings were delayed due to the police failure in executing the NBWs. The judges, however, said that the judiciary and the government should “come together” and device a strategy. 

 The court’s direction came in response to a petition filed by Mazgaon resident Sheriar Patel in 1995. In his petition, Patel alleged that a petroleum adulteration racket was being run by a local hotel owner Parmanand Thakur and his associates.

On February 6, the police informed the court that though Thakur had secured bail, warrants against three out of the 10 accused were pending as they were absconding. The court then sought a general check on the pending NBWs in  Maharashtra.