The Bombay High Court on January 4 pulled up officials of the Meghwadi police station for their unusual step of taking a complaint letter and proceeding to record the statement of an accused before letting him go. Police officials tendered an unconditional apology before the court for not registering an FIR, despite HC’s order. The court ordered them to file a reply as why they noted the statement of an accused.

Court records
The division bench of justices A S Oka and A P Bhangale recorded in their order, “We may note here that the statement of the Petitioner/ Complainant was recorded two months [after that of the accused]. We have perused the statement dated February 10, 2012, which specifically records that the said statement was recorded in connection with the complaint dated January 28, 2012.” The court then adjourned the hearing till February 5, by which the prosecution would have to explain why such an unusual step was taken.