Typing error lands city police in soup Typing error lands city police in soup

A typing error has shamed Delhi Police as it erroneously registered a non-bailable criminal case against a man as a mere bailable offence.

A typing error has shamed Delhi Police as it erroneously registered a non-bailable criminal case against a man as a mere bailable offence.

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A complaint was given by the PWD to Hauz Khas police station stating that the vyapaar mandal of the area had
damaged the footpath by use of JCB machines on Aurobindo Road.

The police registered a case against Yusuf Sarai Vyapaar Mandal president Raj Kumar Sharma alleging defacement
of public footpath, and converting it into a parking space. On the contrary, the footpath at the market was destructed along its entire length, which is a greater offence.

Additional sessions judge Renu Bhatnagar observed the case was actually registered under Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, but due to wrong typing in the computer it was shown registered under Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.

Sharma’s counsel Puneet Mittal told the court, “The FIR is not registered in his name. Then the police incorrectly registered the case. It’s a series of errors.”

Public prosecutor SK Kain admitted the mistake at registering the case and told the court that additional charges have been added to the case.

“The Investigating Officer has filed the report under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, which is a non-bailable offence,” said the public prosecutor opposing the bail.

Sharma’s counsel told the court that the police arrested him at their whim and blamed him for the destruction of the entire footpath.

“He has never been involved in any criminal activity. Without any proof, the police made him kingpin of the crime,” Sharma’s counsel told the court.

The court said that no useful purpose would be served if the accused was kept in custody. Citing sloppy attitude of police officials, the court granted Sharma bail on a bond of R20,000 and directed him to join investigations, as and when the police requires.