Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Mar 15: Hours after a case was filed against advocate Praveen Pinto accusing him of obstructing a woman police inspector of the women’s police station of Hassan, who went to conduct spot inspection in an apartment in the city, Praveen alleged that police have booked him under a false case.
Speaking to daijiworld.com, Praveen said, “Some newspapers have reported that a complaint has been filed against me and others for obstructing the police in performance of their duties. Hence, I am constrained to issue this clarification.
Screengrab of the CCTV footage
Praveen Pinto
“I am handling a matrimonial case in the family court which was filed in August of 2020 for restitution of conjugal rights where my client has alleged that his wife has left him in March 2020 just before the lockdown was imposed. After the summons of the case was served on my client’s wife she sends a notice making allegations against my client but states that she is ready to join my client. My client states that he is ready to take her back provided that she returns back. The lady doesn't return back nor does she appears before the court.
“This being the situation yesterday that is on 15-03-2021 I receive a call from my client stating that some 8 to 10 people have come to their house with a lady police. I ask my client whether I can speak to the lady police just to ask as to what the case is about. The lady police informs me that they have come for mahajar of the case as there is complaint of dowry harassment and such other provisions. I told the police that they could go ahead with the mahajar and i inform my client about the same. The only people that were present in that house at that point in time were my client and his mother who is a senior citizen.
“At around 10.45 when I was on the way to the court to attend to my professional work, I again get a phone call from my client stating that the police are trying to arrest him. Hearing this I immediately rushed to my client’s apartment situated at Bendore, Mangaluru. Since there is CCTV inside the house the entire incident of the police entering the house with others including my clients wife, her father etc are clearly visible. My clients had fully cooperated with the police and the police had even taken photographs. The police had then left from there.
“In the meantime, I had found from a source from Hassan that there was no FIR against my client and hence the police cannot do a mahajar. The action of the police was totally illegal as there was no FIR which was lodged and hence the police could not have travelled from Hassan to Mangaluru and have the mahajar done.
“My client’s apartment is situated in the 4th floor of the apartment complex and the police had finished their work in the 4th floor and had come down to the reception/lobby of the apartment. When I reached there I found the police and other people in the lobby. There they were preparing a false report that my client and his mother didn't cooperate with the police. I asked the police as to why they are preparing a false report when they had fully cooperated. Then I asked the lady inspector as to what is the crime number and whether a FIR was filed. Then this lady inspector evaded those questions. In the meantime I was receiving calls from my client that my clients mother had collapsed in her apartment due to the immense stress created by the police and due to their sudden appearance without any notice. When I was talking on the phone the lady police began screaming to the top of her voice and I asked her to close her mouth as I was unable to hear what my client was telling me. I was worried because it could have been a medical emergency and she could have to be hospitalized. Since the lady police and their staff was doing illegality I told them that for doing this illegality they could be suspended. Then the police left the spot and have filed a false complaint that i and my clients have obstructed justice. That fact is that the lady police has done the illegality and has filed a false complaint.
“The video going on media doesn’t show the entire picture as what I had initially told the police is not the part of the video. The entire CCTV footage of what happened in the lobby of the apartment is available with me too.
“There was no FIR, no warrant. There was no information given regarding the case to my client which is mandatory as per the dictum of the Honourable Supreme Court that in dowry harassment cases first the police station has to counsel the parties and try to unite them. Supreme Court states no coercive steps have to be taken.
“I was there to protect the interests of my client who faced an imminent arrest on a false case. I was doing my professional duty and protecting the interests of my client. The lady police has even given the video to the media to harm my reputation. I will take legal steps in regard to the same.
“This can happen to anyone and filing false cases if police do such illegality it can affect the personal liberty of the people at large.
“Just wanted to issue this clarification as media has published the story only based on the biased version of the police,” he said.