DHAKA, Aug 20, 2025 (BSS) - A court here today directed officers-in-charge of Motijheel, Paltan and Shahjahanpur Police Stations to submit investigation reports in mugging cases without delay, as those are not being placed in due time.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain issued the directive suo moto.

In his order, the court observed that while hearing bail petitions, it appeared that police reports in cases filed under sections 392, 393 and 394 of the Penal Code, 1860 regarding mugging were not being submitted in time. "Many of these cases remain under investigation for three to six months, but reports are still not filed," the order said.

The judge noted that for cases where accused were arrested red-handed and evidence was recovered with no accused absconding, police reports could be submitted within 15 days. "But unfortunately, in most cases, reports are not submitted even within three to five months," it added.

"During bail hearings, it is often found that the accused remain in custody for five to seven months, yet no report is submitted, nor any explanation is given by the investigating officer regarding the delay," the judge said, adding that such delay gives the detainees scope to obtain bail and prolongs trial proceedings.

The order also criticized the practice of forwarding unnamed accused in many cases without sufficient grounds or specific findings from investigation. "In mugging cases, if unnamed accused are forwarded without concrete reasons or evidence, they often get bail after prolonged custody," the court observed, directing that specific reasons and vital information must be included in such instances.

Against this backdrop, the court ordered the officers-in-charge of Motijheel, Paltan and Shahjahanpur Police Stations to ensure submission of police reports in mugging cases within the stipulated time.