Maharashtra Human Rights Commission directs police to pay Rs 2 lakh compensation to Ayurveda doctor

Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission have directed the Bhandup police to pay a compensation amount of Rs 2 lakh to an Ayurvedic doctor for threatening and harassing her to go to the police station in the middle of the night as part of a civil dispute related to property. 

On 3rd March 2021, assistant police inspector (API) Sanjay Thakur of Bhandup police station and his team members went to Pansare Chawl in the middle of the night. There was a dispute related to a room, and the inspector banged on the door and asked her to come to the police station at night. 

The situation lasted for a few hours post-midnight, and the doctor refused to open her door. She then approached the state human rights commission. 

The order passed by the MSHRC chairperson, Justice K K Tated, stated, "It is to be noted that in the present case, complainant being a woman called upon the Bhandup Police Station Officers to protect her and her property. Instead of protecting the complainant and her property, API Sanjay Thakur insisted her to vacate Room No 1 from Pansare Chawl No 1 immediately and handed over the possession to another person. Bare reading of the complaint clearly shows that there was a civil dispute between two parties in which the police officer tried to interfere for the reason best known to him only." 

The judge directed the additional chief secretary (home department) and zonal deputy police commissioner to hold an investigation against the inspector and pay Rs 2 lakh compensation to the complainant. The court criticized the behavior of the police officers who assisted and protected the inspector. 

Speaking to the Times of India, the doctor said, "It was purely a civil dispute and there was no case registered. But Thakur intervened on behalf of the opposite party and threatened to book me in a case if I would not go to the police station in the middle of the night with his team. It was misuse of power and I got justice from MSHRC."

The police administration has reportedly paid the compensation amount to the doctor and has informed the court about it as well. 

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