Cops now need nod from seniors to call in suspects

TO END ‘HARASSMENT’

RATTLED BY frequent complaints against personnel of the Delhi Police Crime Branch for allegedly harassing innocent people, Special Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Taj Hassan has issued an order directing his subordinates to take permission of their DCP concerned before calling any “suspect and alleged person” to the police station.

In his order, Hassan wrote that that in some cases it has been noticed that investigating officers (IOS) call “suspects and alleged persons” against whom there is no evidence. This is done without informing the Deputy Commissioner of Police concerned, and leads to “harassment of innocent people”, he wrote.

“All IOS have been directed to inform their DCP concerned through their respective ACP before calling any suspect and alleged person in connection with their case. It will be the responsibility of the ACP to inform their DCP and to bring such matter on record while maintaining their official registers,” Hassan wrote.

Hassan’s decision comes days after he received a complaint against officials of the Inter State Cell (ISC) probing the abduction ofthe19-year-oldsonofaformer MCD councillor. The teenager was allegedly abducted in October, and returned after his father paid a ransom. Officials of the ISC had arrested four men in connection with the case, though the main accused remained at large.

Recently, ISC officials got a tipoff

The order states that in some cases, investigating officers call ‘suspects and alleged persons’ against whom there is no evidence

that some people were in touchwiththeabscondingcriminal. Acting on this tip-off, they asked them to come to their office at Chanakyapuri.

But ISC officials did not get any leads from questioning the men. Later, these people met senior officials of the Crime Branch, alleging that they had been harassed in the name of investigation.

“When senior officials checked with the IO and ACP about the matter, it came to light that no official permission was taken for their questioning and no entry was made in their daily police diary,” police sources said.

Sources said that following the directions of Hassan, a meeting of all inspectors was called by DCPS and ACPS. The inspectors have been instructed about the newguidelinesandtoldthatstrict departmentalactionwillbetaken against errant officers.

Three years ago, several police personnel were transferred from the crime branch after they were allegedly found to be involved in illegal activities. Three policemen were sent to district lines and an extortion case was registered against one of them after an eatery owner alleged that they detained his son and demanded Rs 20 lakh.

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