NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has rejected the anticipatory bail application of a senior Mizoram Prison Service officer accused of carrying out unauthorized raids in the national capital, illegally detaining several people and demanding money from a foreign national.
The crimes committed by the plaintiff “undermine the integrity of the judicial system, undermine public confidence and tarnish the image of the police as a whole,” Special Judge Manu Goel Karp said in his order denying bail to Shankar Chaudhary.
The matter relates to the alleged police operations conducted between November 21 and 29, 2023, when Chaudhary was appointed as Superintendent of Mizoram Police, and supervised the said raids carried out by Mizoram Police in Delhi.
“After considering the applications and materials on record, in particular, the vigilance investigation conducted at the request of the Home Ministry and the seriousness of the offences, this court is of the view that this is not a suitable case for granting anticipatory bail to the applicant,” the court said in an order dated February 28.
According to the prosecution, Chaudhary, while in Delhi, led a team that allegedly carried out raids without legal authority, conducted searches and seizures without preparing mandatory documents such as warrants or panchnama, and arrested several individuals without formal arrest or producing them before a judge within the stipulated time.
The court noted that surveillance camera footage showed Chaudhry entering the home of a person identified as Harrison in the early hours of November 26, 2023, then leaving approximately two hours later. The footage allegedly showed Harrison carrying a locker and two bags.
He was then taken to Mizoram House in Vasant Vihar, where he stayed from November 26 to November 29.
The court noted that the accused in the case is a high-ranking police official, and the possibility of tampering with evidence and influencing the investigation cannot be ruled out.
“The Mizoram government report states that the applicant also needs to be investigated for the offenses of creating false and fabricated documents.
“The crimes committed by the plaintiff are such that they undermine the integrity of the judicial system, erode public confidence and tarnish the image of the police as a whole,” the court said.
The court said that it was expected of a person of the rank of the Prison Service to maintain integrity and honesty in public service, high ethical standards and discipline in the performance of his duties, but the accused failed to maintain transparency and accountability and acted in a completely defiant manner.
The prosecution further alleged that Chaudhary detained Harrison for more than 72 hours without formal arrest and similarly arrested other individuals in connection with drug cases registered in Mizoram.
It was also alleged that proper documentation was not prepared for the seized items, which included cash, documents, electronic devices and other items.
An internal investigation by the Mizoram government, referred to in the court order, has reportedly found procedural lapses and abuse of power.
It also claimed that statements were fabricated to link some of the defendants to the detained foreign national. Opposing the bail application, the prosecution submitted before the court that the accused abused his official position and that custodial interrogation was necessary.
He argued that most of the key witnesses were his police at the time, raising concerns that he might influence witnesses or tamper with evidence.
The court then rejected his bail application in this case.
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