Jaipur: Allegations that men in civilian clothes joined baton charges during protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar have revived scrutiny of how far police personnel without uniforms can go in restraining or detaining protesters.The debate also intensified in Jaipur after an older Instagram video dating back to June this year resurfaced, purportedly showing a man in plain clothes pushing a protester into a police vehicle. In the clip, a woman repeatedly asks who the man is and questions uniformed police under what authority he is forcing the protester into the vehicle. The man describes himself as “Aam Aadmi” (a common man), while the policemen present do not respond, prompting allegations that they stood by as mute spectators.TOI Monday spoke to senior police officers and legal experts on the rules governing plain-clothes deployment at protests, public gatherings and law-and-order situations.Jaipur Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal said the practice is routine. “Police in plain clothes are deployed at sensitive locations to gather intelligence during protests, crime investigations and law and order situations. They are also used during raids to apprehend fugitives,” he said, adding that he was unaware of the specific video.After TOI showed the video to Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Rajashri Raj Verma, she said, “It is an old video from some other protest and is being examined. If any role of a policeman is found to be improper, appropriate action will be taken.”A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said such personnel often mingle with crowds to identify suspects or gather intelligence before action is taken.Criminal lawyer Deepak Chauhan said working in plain clothes is not illegal, but it does not confer unchecked powers. “However, if a person in plain clothes, without identifying themselves, without lawful authority or without following due process, assaults, forcibly restrains or compels someone to enter a vehicle against their will, such conduct cannot automatically be considered lawful,” he said.
