HC quashes FIR against IPS officer accused of duping professor

New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) The Delhi High Court todayquashed the FIR lodged against an IPS officer accused ofcheating a 87 year-old former Delhi University professor whohad lost her house to the police officer.

Justice S N Dhingra allowed the submission of IPS officerNirmal Dhoundial that the house has already been restored backto Lotika Sarkar, the former professor, and consequently,nothing remained in the FIR.

Seeking quashing of criminal proceedings, Dhoundhial saidthe deed, by which the house was gifted to him by Lotika, hadalready been cancelled in 2009 by the High Court and theproperty has been handed over to her.

The IPS officer said even the Supreme Court has refusedto intervene on Lotika''s petition seeking his prosecution forthe offence of cheating.

The cop''s family has always treated Lotika with "utmostcare and affection" and was never interested in the propertyas alleged, the counsel for Dhoundhial said.

The High Court had in 2009 cancelled Lotika Sarkar''salleged gift deed that had bequeathed her house, situated atHuaz Khas in south Delhi, to Preeti Dhoundial, wife of the IPSofficer, and asked the former DU law professor to stay there.

The court order followed a mutual agreement betweenLotika Sarkar and Dhoundial in court proceedings.

It had also asked the police to open the seal of thehouse to permit Lotika to repossess her house even as itrestrained NGOs from interfering in her affairs.

The court had also quashed all proceedings in the casethat are pending in the tribunal set up under the Maintenanceand Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

The matter had come up before the High Court afterDhoundhial moved against the tribunal order which asked Lotikato stay in her house and directed the police to immediatelyevict the Dhoundials.