SC refuses prosecution of former Delhi Police Commissioner

New Delhi, Feb 29 (UNI) The Supreme Court today refused a petition seeking prosecution of former Delhi Police Commissioner and member of UPSC Dr K K Paul for alleged abetment to suicide of Devender Manchanda, a former police inspector.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran, however, permitted Prashant Manchanda, the son of the former Delhi Police Inspector, to seek an appropriate remedy under the law.

The Chief Justice at one stage asked the petitioner, ''Can a superior officer be charged with an offence of abetment to suicide and if such things are allowed then no superior officer will dare to take action against his sub-ordinate.'' The wife of the deceased also pleaded with the court to procecute K K Paul and alledged that she was suffering from cancer because of the harassment caused by the latter.

According to the petitioner, his father was suspended for not withdrawing his complaint against the then Police Commissioner, lodged with the vigilance department.

The petitioner had challenged the Delhi High Court order, which dismissed his petition, but the apex court refused to interfere with the lower court order and dismissed it as withdrawn.

UNI AKS/SC JT RK1250