BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Friday pulled up the Commissioner of Police N. Achuta Rao and several other police officials for their laxity in executing a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against a resident of the city.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice N. Kumar had on September 8, 2006, directed the Commissioner of Police to be personally present in the court along with the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chamarajpet, and the Inspector, Sub-Inspector, head constable and constable of Girinagar police station.

The Bench had passed the order after the police had failed to execute a NBW against Sriramulu, a resident of Girinagar.

The court had taken the issue seriously as it had asked the Commissioner of Police to ensure that the NBW was expeditiously executed and Sriramulu produced before the court.

The State Public Prosecutor, S. Dore Raju, informed the court that the Commissioner had sent the NBW along with a copy of the court directions to the ACP and asked him to personally look into the matter.

The ACP, instead of doing so, had forwarded the NBW to the Girinagar police station where its Inspector had handed it over to the head constable.

When the head constable went to Sriramulu's house along with a constable, they were told by his son that he was not there. Instead of ensuring compliance of the court orders, the police directly sent back the NBW to the High Court, stating that a fresh date was needed to serve the NBW. Incensed by this submission, the Bench sought to know how the police could take the word of the son of an accused. It also sought to know why the ACP, who is responsible for the laxity, had not been suspended and why only the Inspector and head constable were suspended.

The Commissioner of Police said when he asked the ACP for an explanation, the officer replied that he was busy with law and order duties and that was why he could not ensure personal compliance of the court order.

The Commissioner said he had not accepted the explanation and had framed charges against the ACP. He said a departmental inquiry was on against the official.

The Bench said further orders in the matter would be passed after the action taken against the police officials is placed before the court.

The case was adjourned by 10 days and the court asked the SPP to file list of witnesses and documents.

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