Police slammed for 'casual approach' in informer assault case

NEW DELHI: Slamming the Delhi Police for its "casual approach" towards a complaint filed by an informer against two excise department superintendents, a trial court asked Delhi Police commissioner to ensure fair probe and take action against the negligent investigating officer and SHO.
Chief metropolitan magistrate Vidya Prakash passed the order after looking at the progress report of the probe into the complaint of the informer, who was allegedly assaulted and illegally confined in an income tax office by two superintendents of customs and excise department -- Devender and Virender, who put pressure on him not to disclose incidents of tax evasion.
Earlier, the magistrate had ordered DCP (central) to personally monitor the investigation in the case and had observed that the probe seemed to be "guided by extraneous consideration" to shield the culprits.
"It is painful to note that in the present matter where investigation is being personally monitored by DCP concerned, the SHO (IP estate police station) has filed the report in such a casual manner, unmindful of the fact that investigation is also being monitored by the court," the judge observed.
Calling for action against the IO, the court asked Delhi Police chief to file a report in the matter on November 18.
On February 6, the informer had gone to meet the commissioner of excise to give information about incidents of tax evasion and to claim reward for it, the complaint said. But instead of being rewarded, he was beaten up an threatened by the duo, who possessed a revolver, not to report against them.