This is an archive article published on January 27, 2024
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Court to ACB: File FIR, probe graft allegations against 3 Mumbai police officials
"Direction issued to Anti Corruption Bureau, Mumbai to register FIR against accused on the basis of complaint of applicant and to investigate the crime," the court said in an order on Thursday.
The court said it was on record that the complainant had approached the state Home department for a sanction to prosecute the three cops. (File Photo)
In a recent order, a special court directed the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to file an FIR and investigate allegations against three Mumbai police officials, including a senior police inspector, for allegedly seeking a bribe from a woman in a domestic violence case.
“Direction issued to Anti Corruption Bureau, Mumbai to register FIR against accused on the basis of complaint of applicant and to investigate the crime,” the court said in an order on Thursday.
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A miscellaneous application was filed by the 30-year-old woman who had alleged that she filed a case against her husband and in-laws in 2021 alleging harassment at Borivali police station. The same year, she had approached the magistrate court seeking to add more sections.
Following this, the police called her to record her additional statement. The woman said in her application filed in 2023 before the special court, that two police officials from Borivali sought a bribe of Rs 25,000 claiming that it was on behalf of the senior inspector, to add the sections.
The complaint said that she had paid the sum and that a further amount was then demanded of her to recover jewellery belonging to her which was with her in-laws and husband. She again paid Rs 2 lakh, but despite the bribe being paid, the jewellery was never recovered. The court said it was on record that the complainant had approached the state Home department for a sanction to prosecute the three cops.
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“But despite representation made for securing sanction, the competent authority did not act on it for more than three months. In view of above said deemed sanction is accorded to prosecute accused persons,” the court said. A sanction is required to prosecute public servants as a means of safeguarding them from frivolous complaints made while they are performing public duty. The court said that there is a prima facie case against the three cops under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
“In view of this matter, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACB Office, Worli, Mumbai is directed to investigate the crime after registering FIR against accused persons,” the court said.
The court said it was on record that the complainant had approached the state Home department for a sanction to prosecute the three cops. (File Photo) 
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