In a significant setback for the Navi Mumbai Police, the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Nagpur, has issued a show cause notice to two police officers from the unit investigating a case involving stolen truck registrations. The court has questioned why a contempt of court petition filed by an Inspector of the Regional Transport Office (RTO) against the police officers should not be granted. The Navi Mumbai Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) recently which led leading to the arrest of three RTO officials from Amravati on allegations of involvement in registering and selling trucks using forged documents.

 

RTO Inspector Udaysingh Patil filed a petition before the court of S B Pawar, Civil Judge, Senior Division, Nagpur, after receiving phone calls from the Navi Mumbai police to record his statement. Patil's counsel argued before the court that the defendants had violated the civil fundamental rights of the RTO officer which warranted urgent action. In an order issued on May 9, the court observed that various legal provisions dictate that during the investigation of any criminal case, the police cannot contact a persons by phone but must issue written notices under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

 

However, in this case, the police made phone calls and sent messages. Finally, the court granted the applications on the condition that the defendants refrain from violating the plaintiff's civil fundamental rights, statutory provisions, constitutional provisions, and binding precedents of the Supreme Court of India and High Court. Despite the court's order, the police contacted the applicant again for investigation. As a result, Inspector Patil's counsel approached the court once more and filed a contempt petition. The court took cognisance of the matter and issued notices to the police officers. The next hearing is scheduled for June 28, with Adv Manoj Mendulkar and Adv Prashant Dharmare representing the applicant.