In a significant ruling highlighting alleged police misconduct, a court in Sambhal has directed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against thirteen police officers. The order comes as relief for a 50-year-old man who spent nearly three years in jail after being falsely implicated in a robbery case that the court now suspects was fabricated.
Court Uncovers Discrepancy, Questions Police Narrative
The court issued the order on Wednesday while hearing the petition filed by Om Veer Kumar. Kumar had consistently maintained that he was wrongfully shown as an accused in a 2022 robbery case to help the police project a "breakthrough" in their investigations. His lawyer, Sukant Kumar, revealed that the court observed the robbery case could be fake and subsequently ordered an FIR against two inspectors, four sub-inspectors, and seven other policemen.
According to the original police claim, a milk vendor named Durvesh was robbed of Rs 1 lakh in Sambhal on April 25, 2022. Following this, the police arrested Om Veer Kumar and a 25-year-old man named Rishipal on July 7, 2022.
However, a crucial discrepancy emerged from court and jail records. These documents proved that Om Veer was already lodged in Badaun jail from April 11 to May 12, 2022, in connection with a separate Arms Act case. This evidence prompted the court to question the police's version, asking how he could have committed a robbery while he was incarcerated.
A Life and Family Destroyed by False Charges
Om Veer alleged that his arrest was a result of an old rivalry with the village pradhan (head), and claimed several policemen were "in touch" with the pradhan. He stated that the police were under pressure to show results in pending cases and therefore arrested him and Rishipal to claim a success.
"Police were under pressure to show results in multiple pending cases and arrested Rishipal and me to claim a breakthrough," Om Veer said. "Later parading us as hardened and even international criminals in press briefings. Nineteen damaged motorcycles were shown as recoveries."
While Rishipal secured bail earlier, Om Veer remained in jail for nearly three years. He described these years as ones that destroyed his family financially and socially.
"Before I was sent to jail, I owned around six-and-a-half bighas of land. Today, I don't own even a single bigha," a devastated Om Veer recounted. "I live in a rented room for Rs 2,500 a month. My two children, whom I dreamt would study and do well, now work at wedding functions, serving tea and snacks to help us survive."
Spotlight on Police Accountability and Miscarriage of Justice
The court's directive has now turned the spotlight firmly onto the involved officers, raising serious questions about the alleged misuse of power, prolonged illegal incarceration, and the profound personal cost of such actions. The case underscores the devastating impact a fabricated police case can have on an individual's life, leading to complete economic and social ruin.
A senior police officer familiar with the developments confirmed that the FIR is yet to be registered following the court's order. The next steps in the probe will be closely watched, as they test the mechanisms for police accountability in the state.
This ruling not only brings hope for justice to Om Veer Kumar but also serves as a stark reminder of the need for stringent checks and balances within the law enforcement system to prevent the weaponization of legal procedures against innocent citizens.
