Two convicts arrested over threats to trial judge in mob lynching case, MP govt tells HC

Jabalpur, Jul 9 (PTI) Two persons who were among those convicted by Additional District Judge Tabassum Khan in a 2022 mob lynching case have been arrested for allegedly threatening her online, the Madhya Pradesh government has told the High Court. Khan, posted in Seoni Malwa, sentenced 14 persons to life imprisonment on June 12 in a case related to the murder of a man by a group of persons for allegedly transporting cattle on August 3, 2022. The Director General of Police and Additional Chief Secretary on Wednesday filed affidavits before a division bench of Justices Anand Pathak and B P Sharma who have taken a suo motu cognisance, as a public interest litigation, of the issues related to the security of judicial officers. At an earlier hearing, the bench had taken a serious view of the threats received by Additional District Judge Khan. It impeded judicial independence and the ability of judicial officers to discharge their duties without fear, the HC said, asking the DGP and Additional Chief Secretary to file affidavits on the action taken in the matter. During Wednesday's hearing, the state government told the HC that the woman judge has been provided additional security. It also submitted a status report on the action taken in such incidents involving judicial officers in other districts. PTI COR LAL KRK