Court notice to Delhi Police on cop’s front-rolls

The Delhi High Court Wednesday sought an explanation from the Delhi Police commissioner and an officer after the latter allegedly made a constable do front-rolls within the Patiala House court complex as a punishment.

The division bench of Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice R.S. Endlaw took note of media reports and asked the commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Seju P. Kuruvilla to file an action taken report by Feb 15.

Kuruvilla Tuesday allegedly scolded constable Dinesh Kumar and made him do front-rolls as a punishment for talking on his cell phone and not frisking people who were entering the court complex while he was on duty.

Lawyer R.K. Saini, seeking initiation of criminal contempt proceeding against Kuruvilla for scandalising the court and its proceedings, alleged that the judge in-charge of the Patiala House court complex was inappropriate in his action as he simply forwarded a complaint by some lawyers over the issue to Police Commissioner B.K. Gupta.

“The police officer took exception to the behaviour of the constable who did not salute him. Not only that, the police officer tore the badge and snatched his mobile phone and awarded inhuman and indecent punishment,” Saini said.

According to witnesses, Kuruvilla Tuesday found the constable, in his 30s, talking on his cell phone and not frisking people who were entering the court complex.

Advocates who were witnesses alleged that Kuruvilla tore off the badge of the constable and snatched his mobile phone and used abusive language.

It was also alleged by the lawyers that Kuruvilla had allegedly punished constable for not saluting him.