Overweight police officers: Punjab & Haryana HC directs ADGP to ensure cops are physically fit so accused do not escape during raids

During an anticipatory bail hearing last week, the Punjab & Haryana High Court made pertinent observations on the rise in instances of accused escaping from the police during raids..The accused in these cases seemed to be fleeing the clutches of the police, despite four to five officers being present on the scene, it was observed..Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan, who was hearing the anticipatory bail application, commented that the majority of these cases pertained to alcohol and narcotics raids, conducted on the basis of secret information..The mostly middle-aged accused often fled from the police party party by scaling walls or by jumping from the roof of the building raided, the judge observed. .Therefore, the judge has directed the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) "not to depute those overweight and unable to run". The ADGP was further tasked with ensuring that those with records of failing to nab accused in such instances were not deputed for raids. The order reads,."The Additional Director General of Police, Bureau of Investigation, Punjab is further directed not to depute such police officials especially those who are overweight and unable to run."Punjab & Haryana High Court.All officers who have failed to nab accused will have to undergo physical fitness tests supervised by a team of doctors at Police Training Academies in the state..Such police officers could later be sent for a three-month physical training session, or in the alternative, be replaced by younger, fitter officers during Excise Act raids, Justice Sangwan suggested.."...in the alternative, the Additional Director General of Police, Bureau of Investigation, Punjab will explore the possibility of deputing young and fit officials, where the raid under the Excise Act is to be conducted."Justice Sangwan.The police was also instructed to examine why instances of the accused escaping continued to occur, despite the majority of the accused persons being middle-aged and even elderly. The Court ordered that the report with findings be filed with the Registrar-General of the Court at the next hearing of the case..The Court came to consider the matter of accused escaping police raids after the petitioner, one Malkit Singh, cast doubts on the prosecution's story that he was seen fleeing the scene of a police raid..Singh was booked under Section 15 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1982 after he was chased by a head constable during a raid. The police constable failed to nab him, but claimed he knew Singh 'previously'. The petitioner submitted that the constable's claim was doubtful, since he had no criminal antecedents..The State submitted that Singh had been nominated on the basis of the testimony of the Head Constable..Because of the loopholes in the story, and the fact that the person chased by the police managed to escape, the Court found the prosecution's case doubtful and allowed Singh bail. The order states,."After hearing learned counsel for the parties, considering the fact that the petitioner is not involved in any other case; he is a man of middle age about 45 years and despite presence of 4-5 police officials, he managed to run away from the spot, raises a doubt about the incident, this petition is allowed and the petitioner is granted anticipatory bail subject to the conditions envisaged under Section 438 (2) Cr.P.C.".Read the Order here: