Pune Police Penalise 3 Officers For Mishandling Domestic Violence Case

A departmental inquiry has found that three police personnel attached to Vishrambaug Police Station in Pune allegedly turned an official investigation into a domestic violence case into a sightseeing trip to Satara.

The inquiry, which was ordered after a complaint by the woman complainant, found that Police Sub-Inspector Swarupa Naikwade, Police Constables Shrihari Patil and Komal Kamble failed to carry out a proper investigation.

On April 4, the three officers took the complainant to Satara to conduct a spot inspection, but instead of coordinating with the local police and carrying out a proper investigation, they allegedly spent time at a popular roadside dhaba.

The officers did not question local residents or other relevant witnesses at the spot and after completing the panchnama, they visited Kaas Plateau and other tourist spots in the Satara region.

The complainant reportedly told the officers that her mother was unwell and alone at home and repeatedly requested that they return to Pune, but the officers allegedly continued their sightseeing.

During the return journey, they also stopped at the residence of a woman police employee for dinner and reached Pune only after 1 am.

The officers initially tried to drop the complainant at Swargate, but after she objected, they reportedly dropped her outside the Narayan Peth Police Chowky in the middle of the night instead of ensuring she reached her home safely.

The departmental inquiry concluded that the officers failed to carry out a proper investigation and treated the official visit as a leisure trip.

Their conduct reflected gross indiscipline, negligence, irresponsibility and dereliction of duty and had the potential to damage the image of the police force.

Based on these findings, Additional Commissioner of Police Rajesh Bansode imposed the departmental punishment of withholding the annual increments of all three officers for two years without cumulative effect.

This incident highlights the need for police officers to maintain professionalism and adhere to protocols during investigations.

The actions of these officers not only compromised the investigation but also put the complainant's safety at risk.

The decision to penalise the officers is a step in the right direction and serves as a reminder that such behaviour will not be tolerated.

The police force must ensure that its officers are held to high standards of conduct and that any instances of misconduct are addressed promptly and effectively.

This incident also underscores the importance of ensuring that victims of domestic violence receive the support and protection they need.

The police have a critical role to play in this regard, and it is essential that they take all allegations of domestic violence seriously and conduct thorough investigations.

In conclusion, the penalisation of the three police officers in Pune is a welcome move, and it is hoped that it will serve as a deterrent to other officers who may be tempted to compromise their duties.

The incident highlights the need for greater accountability and professionalism within the police force, and it is essential that steps are taken to address these issues and ensure that the police force is able to effectively serve and protect the community.