HC to DGP: Probe additional commissioner’s conduct

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Tuesday ordered the Director General of Police (DGP), Maharashtra, to inquire into the conduct of an additional commissioner of

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Tuesday ordered the Director General of Police (DGP), Maharashtra, to inquire into the conduct of an additional commissioner of police from Mumbai, who entertained a complaint directly from an anti-piracy agent and ordered action against jewellers “only with an intention to bring them to the negotiation table.”

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“Even in very serious offences, we have very rarely seen an additional commissioner of police directly entertaining complaints and ordering action,” said the high court bench while commenting on the conduct of the senior police official.

The division bench of justice Abhay Oka and justice Amjad Sayed also directed the DGP to submit a report by October 10, and consider issuance of instructions to all police stations against acting at the behest of such agents so that in future such incidents are not repeated and “the people who carry on business of liaisoning with the police” are discouraged.

“The common man is required to approach this court because police refuse to register FIRs on the basis of his complaint,” the bench observed, questioning assistant public prosecutor, Madhavi Mhatre, as to why such prompt action is not taken by senior police officials in all other cases.

While quashing the criminal proceedings against Mewawala and Nimakwala, the bench said, “Perusal of the FIR clearly indicates that by no stretch of imagination an offence under the said Act of 1957 (Copy Rights Act) was made out.”

The bench said, “Section 420 of the IPC was invoked with obvious reasons, as some of the offences under the said Act of 1957 are not cognizable. The only conclusion which can be drawn is that criminal law was set in motion only to ensure that the applicant (jeweller) was brought to negotiation table.”

In addition, the court let off Raj Singh and his employer after they agreed to donate Rs1 lakh each to Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority.