In a property dispute case with allegations of police inaction and harassment, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone VII, Mumbai, and an officer attached to the Pant Nagar police station to pay Rs1 lakh in compensation to a complainant for delays in filing an FIR, and for registering it under a repealed law.

The SHRC also instructed the Director General of Police (DGP), Mumbai, to educate police officers about implementing new criminal laws, emphasising the importance of promptly lodging FIRs.

The complainant, Sangeeta Pol, approached the SHRC and claimed her stepdaughter had illegally inducted an alleged “lady bouncer” into her disputed flat at Happy House CHS Ltd in Pant Nagar, Ghatkopar. Despite judicial orders from the City Civil Court and the Bombay High Court to maintain the status quo, Pol alleged that her stepdaughter and her accomplices continuously harassed her.

Pol accused the police of allegedly colluding with her stepdaughter and delaying the registration of an FIR. When the FIR was finally registered, it was filed under repealed laws rather than under the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

The DCP has now been asked to ensure a neutral and expedited investigation into Pol’s case, entrusting it to a senior officer. “A charge sheet must be submitted within two months. Failure to comply will result in departmental action against the erring officers,” held the SHRC.

“The supervisory officers, including the DCP and ACP, failed to ensure compliance with the amended laws. There was no explanation or documentation regarding the stage of the investigation, reflecting a lethargic attitude by the police. Also the FIR was registered only after SHRC intervention, further delaying justice for the complainant,” the SHRC said.

The Commission emphasised that the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita explicitly mandates immediate registration of complaints and provision of a free copy to the informant or victim.