Ahmedabad:A local court has imposed a fine ofRs10,000 on a person for falselycomplainingagainstthe policethat he was bookedforpossessingbeer bottlesbought with a health permit.The man had been booked under the Prohibition Act for allegedly running a pub at his home.This case involvedShaileshbhaiGarange, 52, a resident ofKubernagar, who filed a complaint with a judicial magistrate atGheekanta court in 2023 and sought action againstthe policefor filing a false Prohibitioncase against him.According toGarange, he held a health permit and purchased 40 beer bottlesfroma hotel on Oct 3, 2023. He had 16 other beer bottles lying in his home, and those were also bought on the strength of his health permit, he said.A police team fromSardarnagar police station raided his house on Oct 9,2023andseized the beer bottles.The court ordered an inquiry under Section 202 of theCrPC. After the inquiry and recordingGarange and his witnesses’ statement, the court said that considering the FIR, beer and liquor bottles were found at his home.Eighteenpersonswerearrested from his housewhileenjoyingaliquor party.The police complaint reveals thatGarange and his son ranthe place. The health permit was also seized during the raid, and it was found thatithad expired in April 2023, much before the raid was carried out.The court said, “The recordindicatesthat the complainant’s claim about liquorpurchasedongovt’s permit is contrary to the fact. The court opines that a false and malicious complaint against police officers undermines the morale of the police force and wastes judicial time.”The court added,”If the complaint is proven false or misleading prima facie, legal action can beinitiatedagainst the individual concerned.”Referring to the FIR, the court said, “It becomes clear that the police officers involved have acted lawfully. Filing false cases against such police officers can significantly damage the reputation of the police.” The court added,”Moreover, recordsindicatethat the complainant is also involved in other similar offences.”The court rejectedGarange’s complaint and said, “It seems that the complainant has filed a false case against the police inspector, police sub-inspector and other personnel ofSardarnagar police station with malicious intention of harming their reputation and hence the complainantshould depositRs10,000 towards penalty with the legal committee, chief judicial magistrate building, Ahmedabad, within30 days.“
