Karnataka News: Expressing strong displeasure, the Karnataka High Court has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Lady Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Padmavati TB for hiding important facts before the court. Rejecting his petition, the court said that he misused the judicial process and deliberately hid the information about the case registered on the instructions of the court. A single bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna has ordered to deposit the fine amount to the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA).
The matter is of the night of 23 February 2025. According to the allegation, there was a dispute between a lawyer and an auto rickshaw driver over overtaking on the road in a poorly lit area. It is alleged that the auto driver forcibly stopped the lawyer's car and threw stones at it, due to which the glass of the car broke.
After the incident, the lawyer reached the nearest police station to lodge a complaint and demand security. It is alleged that there was a delay of about two hours in registering his complaint. During this time, the dispute escalated in the police station and some documents and items got scattered. Meanwhile, Lady PSI Padmavati of Madiwala Traffic Police Station, who was on night patrol, reached the spot.
According to court records, during this time Padmavati allegedly assaulted the complaining lawyer and also kicked him. The entire incident was recorded in the CCTV cameras installed in the police station. Later the matter reached the High Court, where the court directed to register an FIR against Padmavati.
After this, Padmavati filed a petition in the High Court challenging the case registered against her, but she did not reveal the fact that the FIR itself was registered on the orders of the High Court. Commenting strongly on this, the court said that the conduct of the petitioner is not limited to mere hiding of facts, rather it falls in the category of abuse of judicial jurisdiction.
The court said that a person seeking justice should come to the court with clean hands, the one who takes refuge in the court by hiding the facts cannot be entitled to judicial relief.
The High Court also made it clear that the interim stay order granted to Padmavati was canceled ab initio, because it was obtained by hiding important evidence. While allowing the investigation to continue, the court said that the investigation report will also be presented before the High Court before presenting it in the concerned court.
Input-Karnataka Desk
