A case, under Section 406 of the IPC for the offence, has been registered against retired Inspector Kumedan Khan following the court’s order.

One Ranbir Singh was arrested in 1994 after his bus was involved in a minor accident in Hauz Khas. Singh was later acquitted. The police handed over the seized bus (DLIP3324) to a wrong person, who sold it. Realising the mistake, the police again seized the bus in 1995. From August 13, 1995, to April 22, 1999, the bus remained with the Hauz Khas police, parked outside the police station.

Finally when Singh got his bus back several things, including three tyres of the bus were missing. The police investigated the matter and it was found that the storekeeper of the police station had earlier reported to then SHO that on October 6,1996, someone had stolen parts of the bus. Khan, instead of registering a theft case tried to cover it up.

Khan refused to take any action even when Singh submitted an inventory of missing objects from his bus. Singh finally went to court with his complain. The court had earlier directed the Delhi Police to take action against Khan, but despite an assurance by the district the DCP no action was taken. The court had issued orders against Khan in 1999 and 2002, but no action was taken.

“Despite specific and repeated directions by this court, inaction of police smacks of malafide intention as they are clearly saving their own officials. The theft of the bus parts took place from police custody and could not have taken place without connivance of police officials. If something is not safe outside the police station then one can imagine the plight of common man,” Metropolitan Magistrate Ravinder Bedi observed.