Cop in dock for friend-of-police ID

A police officer in the traffic department has been punished for issuing an identity card to a man designating him as ‘friend of police’ and an ‘undercover agent’.

A police officer in the traffic department has been punished for issuing an identity card to a man designating him as ‘friend of police’ and an ‘undercover agent’.

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Vikas Ganeriwal, a businessman from Malad, approached the Bombay High Court last November alleging that Sudhir Jhunjhunwala who claims to be a ‘friend of the police’ and an ‘undercover agent’ was harassing him and trying to extort money after showing his identity card issued by the Sakinaka police.

Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Dayal filed an affidavit saying the police had issued a notice to Inspector Ajit Manjardekar, who issued the identity card in May.

Manjardekar, who was then posted in the Sakinaka police station, is now with the traffic department, Chembur. Dayal’s affidavit states that they were not satisfied with his reply and so stopped his increment for a year. Manjardekar has not appealed against that order.

Police department has now issued instruction to officers in all police stations to not issue any licence to anyone, adds Dayal’s affidavit.

Ashok Saraogi, advocate for Ganeriwal, said that Jhunjhunwala threatened his client with the identity card claiming that he was now “equivalent to a policeman”.

Ganeriwal filed an application under the Right to Information Act.