In Mumbai, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's commitment to expedite the Baba Siddique murder case has received varying reactions from legal experts. While some, such as senior counsel Amit Desai, believe that expediting high-profile murder investigations can have a positive impact, others warn against rushing justice, emphasizing the importance of thorough investigations to uncover the perpetrators behind the crime. Fast-tracking the court trial is seen as a way to address concerns about law and order standards in Mumbai but must not compromise the investigative process, according to several lawyers. The trial could potentially be transferred to one of the 866 fast-track courts (FTCs) nationwide, which specialize in handling serious crimes like murder, sexual offenses, and crimes against women and children. However, some lawyers raise concerns about the limitations and challenges faced by FTCs in delivering justice effectively due to resource constraints and inadequate infrastructure.
Senior criminal law advocate Majeed Memon, who recently rejoined the NCP (Sharad Pawar), expressed bewilderment over the circumstances of Siddique's "brutal assassination" and questioned the effectiveness of his security detail during the incident. Memon emphasized the need for a vigilant and meticulous investigation in such grave crimes. While fast-tracking the case is an option, Memon stressed the importance of building a strong case against the culprits to ensure justice for the victim and his family, cautioning against prematurely revealing suspects' photographs before a proper identification process is conducted."According to veteran crime counsel Niteen Pradhan, punishment by CM and HM will not be effective in addressing crime. Pradhan emphasized the importance of a fast-tracked murder case investigation that is thorough and credible to restore public confidence. The new criminal procedural code, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), now requires police to complete their investigation and file charges within 90 days, a new restriction that was previously absent. In Maharashtra, there are 36.5 lakh pending criminal cases, 60% of which are over a year old. Recent data from the National Judicial Data Grid shows a high number of both new criminal cases and disposed cases across the state. For example, in Mumbai, there are 41,530 pending criminal cases at the sessions court. Last month, 1,548 serious criminal cases were filed before the sessions court, and 948 cases were disposed of. The grid does not provide separate data for FTCs."