Chennai: 3 cops to pay Rs 30,000 for harassing man 3 years ago
Chennai: The State Human Rights Commission directed three police personnel to pay a compensation of Rs 30,000 to a pawn broker for foisting a case against him and harassing him three years ago. The commission also recommended that government initiate disciplinary proceedings against them.
In the complaint, pawnbroker S.Selvaraj submitted that he runs a jewelry shop, Sri Pavithra Pawn Broker in Perambalur. He is also a qualified assessor for jewels empanelled with the Indian Overseas Bank. When he was in the shop on October 20, 2015, at about 1.30 pm, a person in civil dress asked him to identify persons seated inside a vehicle. Mannarmannan, inspector, Gantharvakottai police station, Pudukottai district, Rajavelu, SI, Keelapalur police station, Ariyalur district and Sivaraj, inspector, Keelvelur PS, Nagapattinam district were accompanied by four police personnel.
Mannarmannan pointed to a person seated inside the car and asked Selvaraj whether he had pledged any jewels with him in the past. After taking him to various places they reached Kayarlabath police station in Ariyalur district at midnight. They abused him in filthy language and also beat him. They threatened to file a false case against him. He was directed to surrender 9 sovereigns of gold in order to get relieved from the police station. The Jewellery Association, which came to his rescue, mobilised
Rs 15,000 and handed over the amount along with 72 grams of gold jewel to police. Thereafter he was let off from the police station. He sought suitable action against the policemen for violating his human rights.
In their reply, police denied the allegation and said that they performed their duties in accordance with law. SHRC judge D. Jayachandran said that considering the oral and documentary evidence of the parties and arguments of the counsels appearing for both parties, the commission was of the considered opinion that the complainant had proved his case. Hence he was entitled to receive compensation of Rs 30,000 from the policemens. S.Selvaraj was entitled to get Rs 10,000 each from the three policemen.The commission also recommended that government initiate disciplinary action against the policemen.