Man Brings Stillborn Foetus To Madhya Pradesh HC Courtroom; Four Police Personnel Suspended Over Security Lapse

Security arrangements at the Jabalpur Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court came under scrutiny this week after a man allegedly walked into a courtroom carrying the stillborn foetus of his unborn child in a bag and placed it on the dais while seeking justice from the court. This occurred during proceedings before Justice Himanshu Joshi, leaving lawyers and court staff momentarily stunned inside court.

A day after the incident, the Jabalpur police suspended four personnel posted at gate number six of the High court, citing serious security lapses that allowed the petitioner to enter the premises carrying the foetus without detection. Those suspended include Assistant Sub Inspector Munna Ahirwar, Head Constables Brahmadutt Khatri and Arun Upadhyay, and Constable Pratik Sonkar. All were deployed at the same entry gate yesterday.

The man was identified as Dayashankar Pandey, a resident of Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh, who had approached the High court seeking protection and action over alleged repeated attacks on him and his family. According to officials, Pandey entered the court complex through gate number six with a bag that later drew attention from security personnel and lawyers present there during morning hours quietly waiting.

When the matter was taken up, Pandey allegedly took out the foetus from his bag and placed it on the dais before the judge, pleading that authorities had failed to help him despite repeated complaints. The sudden act left the courtroom shocked and court staff quickly alerted security personnel stationed nearby while lawyers watched in disbelief at the unexpected scene unfolding before them that morning.

Police later said the foetus belonged to Pandey's wife who had recently suffered a miscarriage, and the man was carrying it to highlight what he claimed was administrative and police inaction in his case. His petition before the High court alleges that unidentified persons attacked his family several times in Gurh town of Rewa district causing fear and forcing him to seek urgent judicial intervention.

Pandey had moved the High court after claiming that local police failed to take effective action despite multiple complaints lodged by him regarding the alleged assaults on his family members earlier. According to sources, the petition was listed for hearing on Monday when the dramatic incident occurred inside the courtroom drawing immediate attention from judges, lawyers, staff and security personnel present there that morning itself.

Soon after the development, Jabalpur Superintendent of Police Sampat Upadhyay ordered suspension of four police personnel posted at gate number six of the High court pending departmental inquiry into the alleged lapse in security arrangements. Police said the step was taken to ensure accountability and to review security procedures at the court premises so that similar incidents do not occur again in future during hearings.

Lawyers present in the court described the episode as deeply disturbing and said it reflected the desperation of a litigant who believed he had not received attention from authorities despite approaching multiple forums earlier. One lawyer remarked that the scene was shocking and unforgettable for everyone inside the courtroom where the petitioner stood silently after placing the foetus before the court seeking justice and relief.

The High court itself has not passed any judicial order on the episode, but the security lapse has prompted administrative scrutiny and renewed attention to safety arrangements within the court complex at Jabalpur this week. Officials said further steps may follow after the inquiry while the petition filed by Pandey continues to remain pending before the High court awaiting consideration on merits in due course.