Written by Omkar GokhaleMumbai | December 15, 2025 01:56 PM IST 2 min readThe Bombay High Court expressed concerns about "leisurely" preliminary inquries undertaken by police officers in "utter disregard" of the law, dragging them on for months, despite the 14-day mandate required for completion. (Express Photo)The Bombay High Court last week expressed concerns about “leisurely” preliminary inquiries by the police in “utter disregard” of the law, dragging on for months despite the 14-day mandate for their completion.It sought a response from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as to whether the mandate applies to all police stations within the purview of the Bombay HC and if so, “why it has not been followed strictly and sincerely”.A bench of Justices Ajey S Gadkari and Ranjitsinha R Bhonsale was hearing a plea by one Kundan Jaywant Patil, argued through advocates Uday Warunjikar and Ayush Pasbola. It sought registration of an FIR against a person in relation to his complaint to the Kashimira police station in Mira Road (East) in the Thane district of Maharashtra in October.The court was informed that in August, one Surekha Narkhede filed a complaint against Patil and others. Summonses were issued to the petitioner and others to attend the police station, and the inquiry into Narkhede’s complaint is still ongoing.The bench, in its December 10 order, referred to Section 173(3)(i) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which stipulated a preliminary enquiry within a period of 14 days to ascertain whether there existed a prima facie case for proceeding in the matter.“We regularly come across with cases wherein the police personnel and/or Police Stations within the territorial jurisdiction of this Court are conducting preliminary enquiries leisurely as per their own whims and caprices and in utter disregard to the mandate of law, i.e. Section 173(3) (i) of BNSS,” the HC observed.“Either the police personnel are not aware of the fact that, the Government of India, has enacted BNSS, 2023, and it came into effect from July 1, 2024, or they are deliberately not following the mandatory provisions of law for the reasons best known to them,” the HC said.Story continues below this adThe court then allowed the petitioner to add the home ministry as a party respondent to the case and asked him to inform the Office of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) of India, Western Region, about its order seeking the ASG’s assistance on the same during the next hearing on December 19.Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions. Expertise & Authority Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage. Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale's work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in: Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court's principal and regional benches. Key subjects include: Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes). Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty). Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict. Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability. Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges. Omkar Gokhale's consistent, focused reporting on the judiciary establishes him as a definitive and authoritative voice for legal developments originating from Mumbai and impacting the entire state of Maharashtra. ... Read More © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd