HC pulls up Lake PS, orders online or at-home interrogation
Times of India | 18 December 2024
12 Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday pulled up Lake police and directed them to conduct the questioning of a 78-year-old woman and her cancer-stricken husband either virtually or at their residence. The couple had moved court, alleging that they were made to visit the police station — the cancer patient in a stretcher — twice in connection with a complaint against them.
It was revealed in court that a theft FIR had been filed against the 78-year-old woman and her partially paralysed cancer patient husband after they allegedly refused to give their flat on rent to the complainant.
According to the writ petition, the petitioners own a flat in Dhakuria. Following persistent nudge from one Aamir Parwez, they gave the flat on rent of Rs 12,000 per month to him from last March. They claimed that Parwez left the flat in Nov. It was stated that Parwez approached the elderly couple again, demanding the flat to be given to him on rent again. The couple alleged that after they refused, a case was filed against them.
Parwez, it was revealed in court, had filed a complaint of theft against them. "Can a 78-year-old woman commit theft? Where did the police get the 35A format? How is the investigating officer asking for a bond?" Justice Tirthankar Ghosh questioned.
The couple had approached court alleging harassment by the police authorities. They were summoned by the sub-inspector of Lake PS and were asked to make personal appearances on Dec 10. Since the husband was in no position to move, they were compelled to go to the police station in an ambulance and then he was stretchered in.
The couple's lawyer said the FIR along with the police complaint should have been uploaded onto the police website but it was not done. In the writ petition, it was alleged that when the couple arrived at the police station they found the complainant having tea with the IO. It was further stated that they were pressured by the police authorities to pay Rs 1,20,000 to Parwez to avoid further harassment.
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