SHRC dismisses fake complaint against cop, slaps cost on petitioner

According to the complainant, Gomathi, an unidentified person hired her husband Palani’s auto on September 19, 2016. On the way to Taramani, he asked Palani to stop the auto and asked another person (later identified as Ramasamy of Taramani) standing there if he wanted to work as mason. The latter agreed and got inside. When the vehicle was on Guindy Outer Ring Road, the man threatened Ramasamy and robbed his two gold rings. He then asked Palani to stop the auto, assaulted the victim and chased him away.

Though Palani was also assaulted for asking the fare, inspector Kannan took him in custody, tortured him asking him to return the jewels to the robbery victim, Gomathi alleged in the complaint. Facing pressure from the police, Palani’s relative Parthiban bought and handed over two gold rings, she claimed.

However, the inspector said that the complaint he received from Ramasamy cited Palani’s auto’s registration number, and added that the day after that incident, Kumar of Ekkattuthangal filed a similar complaint saying that he was assaulted and robbed of his mobile phone and Rs 2,000 by a man driving the same auto and another person on a two-wheeler.

The inspector and team nabbed both the accused, but Palani’s accomplice escaped. Police recovered two gold rings, a screwdriver and knife from Palani, who was sent to judicial custody.

After the hearing, Commission member D Jayachandran observed that the statements by Palani, Gomathi and the witnesses they presented were contradictory. It noted that there was no evidence to support the allegation of torture, and added that even the bill for two gold rings that his relative claimed to have purchased was forged.

Gomathi wanted to harass inspector Kannan, the Commission said, and charged that she did not approach it with clean hands. Dismissing the petition, it also awarded Rs 10,000 to the police officer as exemplary cost.