Mumbai: Pandora’s box of plaints threatens wayward cops

The complaint box installed by Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik outside police headquarters recently is soon likely to induce sleepless nights in errant policemen. The box has been flooded with complaints, and Patnaik will take necessary action against the perpetrators, sources said.

Irked by increasing cases of rampant corruption and other illegalities within the force, the commissioner had set up a complaint box outside the Mumbai police headquarters on December 8.

“The reason we installed the complaint box outside is because people are not allowed into the headquarters at night. If they want to post a complaint, they can now do so any time as per their convenience,” said a senior police officer, requesting anonymity.

“Another important reason we installed it outside the gate was because of the danger of someone planting explosives in it - a threat to the commissioner’s office. Here the complaint box is heavily guarded by policemen,” the officer said.

“The complaint box is directly handled by the commissioner, and only he has its keys,” said Manohar Dalvi, deputy commissioner of police, Operations. “He himself reads all the complaints. Ever since the box has been set up, a lot of complaints against policemen have been received, and the commissioner is likely to take necessary action against the involved policemen soon.” He said most of the complaints revolved around police corruption, rude behaviour, and inadequate action.

The commissioner has also set up a dedicated SMS line for those who have been harassed by policemen. “The aggrieved can send SMSes to 7738144144, and pass on information about policemen indulging in corruption. The commissioner himself goes through the SMSes received, and takes action,” said another police officer.