An adverse High Court order and even a State Information Commissioner direcrtive to register a criminal case against a sub-inpector has failed to galvanise the UP Police mandrins into action.
Meet sub-inspector Waseef Siddiqui of Saharanpur. Indicted for conniving with criminals, tampering with evidences and closing a probe into dacoity by attaching ‘final report’ despite there being 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 close the probe on basis of a sole ‘witness’ - who had already died a decade before t he 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. The charges - conniving with criminals, tampering evidences and helping the accused by closing the probe.
In April, the SIC had asked the then DGP, AK Jain to take action against Siddiqui and also 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 tis 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, barged into his house and after assaulting him and his family, looted ornaments and other valuables. Before escaping, they habded 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 IPC. However, the investigating officer sub-inspector Waseef 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 blatant 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 also approached the DGP.
The High Court, a year back, directed the UP Police brass to take action against Siddiqui bu it failed to cut ice with the top cops who took no cognizance whatsoever.
Not only this, a probe conducted at the behest of DGP by Circle Officer (II) of Saharanpur confirmed the charges levelled against sub-inspector Siddiqui. With his patrons shielding his interests, no punitive action was initiated against the cop and he continued to serve in the same district.
The SIC said that Saleem also filed an application under RTI seeking details of action taken by UP Police on orders of High Court or the DGP but he failed to get a reply. Usman has now asked the DGP to ensure action and appraise him of the development within a months time to cleanse the image of the police.