A local court in Sasaram has taken strong action against police misconduct, directing departmental proceedings against a Station House Officer (SHO) for allegedly fabricating a criminal case against an innocent individual. The court's order came during a bail hearing, exposing a troubling attempt to turn a minor scuffle into a serious robbery charge.
Court Uncovers False Robbery Allegation
The court of District Judge-IV, Anil Kumar, passed this significant order on Monday while hearing a regular bail application. The application was filed by the accused, Niranjan Kumar, in connection with Agrer police station case number 181/2025. According to the initial First Information Report (FIR), the informant, Kishori Paswan, had accused Niranjan Kumar and two others of snatching his cellphone.
Based on this complaint, the Agrer SHO treated the incident as a robbery and invoked Section 309(6) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). This led to the immediate arrest and custody of Niranjan Kumar. However, during the hearing, the court found the circumstances highly suspicious and summoned both the informant and the SHO to appear.
Informant's Revelation in Court
In a dramatic turn of events, the informant, Kishori Paswan, disclosed crucial facts before the court. He stated that the accused persons were not carrying any weapons and, importantly, had not actually managed to snatch his cellphone. Paswan revealed that the incident was being falsely projected as a serious offence, and this was done at the behest of the Agrer SHO.
The court observed that the matter was, in reality, nothing more than a minor scuffle. It concluded that the SHO had deliberately converted this into a robbery case. As a result of this alleged framing, Niranjan Kumar was arrested and spent nearly two months in judicial custody for a crime that did not occur as reported.
Bail Granted and Departmental Action Ordered
While granting bail to Niranjan Kumar, the court did not stop there. It issued directives to ensure accountability for the serious lapse. The court ordered the Director General of Police (DGP), the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Shahabad range, and the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Rohtas to initiate departmental proceedings against the Agrer SHO.
The court cited the SHO's actions for allegedly framing an innocent person and, in the process, damaging the image and credibility of the entire police force. This order underscores the judiciary's role in checking police power and protecting citizens from wrongful prosecution.
