Delhi man alleges cops assaulted him, sons for refusing to pay money

A real estate agent claimed that a group of policemen assaulted him and his two sons inside a police station in northwest Delhi after they allegedly refused to pay a “bribe”. The Delhi Police have initiated an inquiry into the allegations and taken action against seven policemen.

Surendra Aggarwal, 43, claimed that one of his sons was allegedly attacked with a sharp weapon, possibly a compass or a large needle, leaving him bleeding from his foot. Pictures of the alleged assault, which were produced by the complainants and could not be independently verified, showed them bleeding and with marks on their limbs.

“We have sent the station house officer (SHO) to police lines. We have also suspended six other policemen, including an assistant sub-inspector and five constables,” said Aslam Khan, deputy commissioner of police (northwest).

Aggarwal claimed that his scooter, which was parked outside his house in Saraswati Vihar, had been taken away to the Rani Bagh police station by some men around 10pm on Sunday. “The neighbourhood guard told the men that the scooter belonged to us, but they did not listen,” Aggarwal said.

He claimed that when his 17-year-old son visited the police station, one of the policemen allegedly demanded Rs 200 for the scooter’s release. “When my son refused to pay the bribe, the policeman said the refusal would cost him and increased the amount to Rs 1,000,” Aggarwal alleged.

When the boy protested, Aggarwal claimed the policemen threatened to “jail him” and “implicate him in a narcotics case”. “When my son refused their demands, they slapped him, broke his glasses and snatched his cellphone,” he alleged.

Shortly after, Aggarwal said the boy’s elder brother reached the police station looking for him and allegedly found the boy being thrashed. The elder sibling too was allegedly assaulted. “They poked his toe with a sharp object and threatened to chop off the fingers of his leg,” alleged Aggarwal.

He then went to the police station with his wife where he alleged he was assaulted by a group of 7-8 policemen.

“When we were finally let off after the intervention of senior officers of the police station, the policemen refused to get us medically examined. Instead, they urged us to settle the matter amicably. But I will pursue the case against the police till the highest court,” said Aggarwal.