RTI applicant's case is false, say Thane police

The Thane police, in two different letters, informed an RTI applicant that his complaint against a deputy commissioner of police in Thane has been closed, and state that his complaint was false and unfounded. The applicant had alleged that the deputy commissioner of police had hit him. The letters come even as the applicant recently complained that he had not been called for his version of the complaint.

The letters, delivered last week, were sent by the Naupada police station where RTI applicant, Kailash Avhad, had filed the complaint. Avhad alleged that during his first appeal hearing, he was abused and hit several times by the DCP who was also the first appellate authority. This, he claimed, happened even as the DCP's writer was present.

The letters that Avhad received are signed by police inspector (administration) and police inspector (crime) of Naupada police station. The letters state that the writer, who Avhad in his complaint said was witness to the assault by the DCP, has stated that no such incident ever took place. The letter concluded that there is no truth in Avhad's complaint, that the complaint is false and unfounded hence it is being closed.

"They are junior officers. The inquiry should have been done by a senior DCP or officer of a higher rank," said Avhad. When the matter came to light, the information commission too had asked the government to inquire into the matter.

"I think he also gave a medical certificate during the hearing. The police need to investigate the whole thing in a proper manner. A competent authority needs to look into the matter," said Bhaskar Prabhu, an RTI activist. Thane police commissioner did not respond to texts from DNA.