Vigilance inquiries often fruitless

NEW DELHI, June 2: Only one-third of the complaints made against policemen are substantiated after inquiries carried out by the vigilance de...

NEW DELHI, June 2: Only one-third of the complaints made against policemen are substantiated after inquiries carried out by the vigilance department of the Delhi Police. Set up to look into the complaints against police officers made by the public, the department struggles to find sufficient evidence to ensure conviction. In some cases, after six months of investigation they discover that the complaints are false and have been filed by criminals themselves.

According to sources in the vigilance department, many cases fall through because the complainant turns hostile during the course of inquiry. 8220;Once a person complains against a police officer, for whatever reason, be it extortion of money or harassment, there is tremendous pressure on him to withdraw his allegation. The complainant may turn hostile because his local cop does not leave him in peace after he has filed a complaint against him.8221;

Reliable sources claim that 8220;there is big money involved in the whole process. The police officer who was demanding money in the first place not only returns the money but bribes the complainant as well. In criminal cases like murder and rape, we have come across cases where the complainant has turned hostile after accepting a bribe from the policeman.8221;

In 1995, there were 447 inquiries lodged with the vigilance department out of which only 123 could be substantiated. In 1996, 143 inquiries were substantiated out of 688 complaints that were filed. Many complaints turn out to be false as they are lodged by bad characters8217; who are themselves involved in multiple criminal cases. Once a policeman registers a case against a criminal often the criminal files a counter-complaint of harassment against the cop, claimed an official of the vigilance department. 8220;When the inquiry begins against the concerned police officer, it becomes easier for the criminal to get away,8221; he added.

In one such case, a man who was found eve-teasing at one of the South Delhi colleges was caught by a policeman on duty. The former filed a vigilance case accusing him of harassment with mala-fide intention. Investigations revealed that the complainant was involved in criminal cases and had filed the complaint with intent to harass.

False complaints apart, vigilance inquiries are often delayed because of procedural problems. 8220;If there are three to four people involved in a complaint, it takes a lot of time to get all the documents and have all the concerned people present at the hearing. Work is also delayed because it is very difficult to get independent witnesses. Unlike agencies like the anti-corruption branch which have their own set of independent witnesses drawn from various departments, we have no such facility,8221; vigilance department officials said.

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