Unbecoming of married cop to cohabit with another woman: Calcutta HC
Times of India | 6 November 2024
Calcutta high court KOLKATA: Calcutta High Court on Tuesday said it was "unbecoming" of a married police officer to cohabit with another woman even, while granting him anticipatory bail following a complaint of physical and mental torture filed against him by his former live-in partner, an advocate.
With the state opposing the officer's anticipatory bail plea, a division bench of justices Joymalya Bagchi and Gaurang Kanth said, "Though we are of the view that the conduct of the married police personnel cohabiting with another individual is unbecoming of his status, within the limited scope of application seeking protection from arrest, it is relevant to note that the department has already initiated departmental proceedings against him."
The bench told the state prosecutor that the police department could suspend the officer for his behaviour or condone his conduct, like his wife, but "we are not going to cleanse your police department. We will protect this lady (the complainant)."
The officer was granted anticipatory bail on conditions that he would not contact the advocate directly, indirectly or through any electronic means, and neither would he enter the jurisdictions of Panihati and Tiljala police stations, where she has residences.
The advocate had filed an FIR against the officer under multiple penal sections for attempt to murder, assault, criminal breach of trust and mental and physical torture.
The advocate claimed that after her divorce in 2020, the officer married her at Kalighat temple in 2021 and they started living together. She later found out that he was already married.
She also alleged that on one occasion, when she and the officer were in a car, he had intentionally dashed his vehicle against a lorry with the intent to kill her, due to which she suffered a miscarriage.
The HC, however, pointed out that in a general diary after the incident she had claimed that a lorry had hit the vehicle.
The woman also claimed that the officer had on one occasion reached her house in a drunken state and demanded Rs 5 lakh.
The officer's lawyer, however, countered it and said on the given day he was on duty, conducting raids and arresting people. The officer also refuted the claim that he had married the advocate.
He told the judges that he was already married and had a child and although he had an intimate relationship with the advocate, the charges were brought against him after the relationship soured.