An adverse High Court order and even a State Information Commissioner directive to register a criminal case against a sub-inpector have failed to galvanise the UP Police mandarins into action.
Meet sub-inspector Waseef Siddiqui of Saharanpur, who is indicted for conniving with criminals, tampering with evidence and closing a probe into dacoity by attaching ‘final report’. Despite there was loads of incriminating evidence against the accused, Siddiqui continues to strut around due to effective patrons.
Siddiqui, as investigating officer of a dacoity case of violence, dacoity, and other IPC sections, closed the probe on basis of a sole ‘witness’, who had already died a decade before the case was registered.
Now, State Information Commissioner, Hafiz Usman has asked DGP, Jagmohan Yadav to reopen the probe immediately and register a criminal case against the cop.
In April, the SIC had asked the then DGP, AK Jain to take action against Siddiqui and against other officers for patronising but ironically, the ex-DGP ‘forgot’ to act.
On Monday, Usman told The Pioneer that he was irked to find the SSP, Saharanpur’s compliance report in this connection wherein he just issued a ‘warning’ to Siddiqui instead of taking strict action for hobnobbing with criminals.
Referring to the case, the SIC said that Saleem of Bhawa Sarai locality in Saharanpur lodged an FIR in 2013, alleging that some criminals, who used to tease his daughter, had barged into his house and after assaulting him and his family, looted ornaments, and other valuables. Before escaping, they handed out life threats to him and his family members.
When the Kotwali police and other senior cops refused to register a case, Saleem moved court after which a case under Section 147/148/ 395/452/323/504/506 of IPC was registered. However, Siddiqui gave a clean chit to the accused by attaching a final report on the basis of the statement of Zaheer Ahmed, who had died 12 years back.
Even when this fact was brought to the notice of then SSP of Saharanpur, DIG of Saharanpur Range and IG (Zone) Meerut, the top cops did not come forward to help. later, the victim filed a writ in the Allahabad High Court and approached the DGP.
The HC, a year back, had directed the UP Police to take action against Siddiqui but it failed to cut ice with the top cops who took no cognizance. Also a probe conducted confirmed the charges levelled against Siddiqui. No punitive action was initiated against the cop and he continued to serve in the same district.