Introduction:

In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court imposed costs on six police personnel of the Maharashtra Police for their involvement in conspiring and illegally detaining tenants, coercing them to sign documents against their will, and demolishing premises without a court order. The case stemmed from tenants’ complaints of forceful eviction by subsequent property purchasers in collusion with the police. Despite a settlement between the complainants and accused, the court expressed displeasure with the police personnel’s conduct.

Arguments of Both Sides:

The tenants alleged forceful eviction and illegal detention by subsequent property purchasers and implicated six police personnel. When the FIR was not registered, the tenants pursued legal recourse, leading to the Sessions Court directing FIR registration. The accused approached the High Court for quashing the complaint, but it declined, directing further police investigation. The accused then appealed to the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court’s order.

Court’s Judgement:

The Supreme Court noted a settlement between the parties, with the subsequent purchasers compensating the tenants. Despite this, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the police personnel’s actions and imposed costs of Rs. 6 lakhs on each for two complainants. The court detailed cost distribution based on the rank of the police personnel involved. While halting criminal proceedings against the accused, the court emphasized the seriousness of police misconduct in the case.