SHO led harassment for refusal to pay hafta

Alleging harassment by the police, Goel has pleaded for transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Petitioner Satish Goel submitted that on May 7, constable Suresh from the Mayapuri police station came to his shop and demanded Rs 500 as regular payment made to the police station by all shopkeepers in the area.

Goel submitted that he refused to pay, and on May 12 at around 7.15 p.m., sub-inspector Mehar Singh visited his shop alongwith constable Suresh and forcibly took away his younger brother Pramod Goel and their domestic helper.

Goel, through counsel R.K. Saini, submitted that he was summoned to the police station where he was taken to the Station House Officer (SHO) A K Sapra’s office. Sapra reportedly ordered a constable to handcuff him. The SHO, according to the petitioner, took out a country-made pistol from his drawer and told the petitioner that the pistol would be planted on him and a case registered.

The SHO allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 for letting them off the hook. After much haggling, according to Goel, Sapra settled for Rs 20,000. The cops allegedly allowed his brother Pramod to go home to fetch the money, and all along, made Satish Goel sit on the floor with his hands handcuffed behind him and showered him with abuses. Goel submitted that the cops made him sign some blank sheets of paper and after payment of Rs 15,000, they let him go.

On May 13, the petitioner says, he approached additional commissioner of police (southern range) S.K. Jain and sought action against the guilty police officials apart from protection of his life and property. Goel submitted that he also pleaded with the additional commissioner to have his money returned, but on May 19 constable Suresh returned and threatened him with dire consequences if he did not take back his complaint.

Counsel for petitioner R.K. Saini submitted that the Delhi Police threatened to involve his client in false cases in Haryana and Punjab and have him shot in a fake encounter.

Goel then filed a complaint with Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vigilance. The petitioner also met Joint Commissioner (southern range) Amod Kanth and informed him about his predicament.

Kanth told the petitioner that a departmental inquiry had been ordered against the SHO. Goel submitted in the petition that despite this he continued to receive threats and the SHO was intimidating the witnesses in the case. He pleaded in a letter to Kanth dated July 14 that the SHO be transferred before the inquiry.

A week later, the petitioner met Union Minister M.L. Khurana and brought the SHO’s alleged atrocity to his notice. Khurana wrote to police commissioner V.N. Singh but till date, the petitioner said he feared for his life for the authorities had not taken any action.

The matter will come up for hearing on August 24.