In a significant verdict, the Delhi High Court granted ₹50,000 in compensation to a man who was unlawfully detained by two police officers for half an hour. The awarded amount will be retrieved from the salaries of the implicated officers. The court emphasized that this action sends a crucial message that police officers must adhere to the law and cannot act independently.
The bench, led by Justice Subramonium Prasad, held both officers accountable for the incident. The court expressed deep concern that the petitioner, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, was not formally arrested but was rather arbitrarily apprehended, taken to the police station, and placed in a cell without valid cause. It condemned the high-handed behavior of the police, highlighting the disregard for a citizen’s constitutional and fundamental rights.
The court clarified that even a brief period spent in lock-up cannot excuse the officers who unlawfully deprived the petitioner of his freedom without following due legal procedure. The bench further asserted that a mere reprimand, unlikely to impact the officers’ careers, would not serve as an adequate deterrent.
Sharma had approached the high court seeking compensation for his unwarranted detention in September 2022 at the Badarpur police station. The investigation revealed that Sharma had called the police after an injured woman sought help at his shop. However, instead of assisting, the officers apprehended him and placed him in custody without filing an FIR (First Information Report) against him.
