‘Proclaimed offender’ orders against top goons soon as cops gear up for elections

Nagpur: The pre-election preparation of city police seemed to have kicked off with an initiative to get maximum orders of proclaimed offenders from the court issued against goons on the run.
The measure would ensure the process to secure bail would be blocked following which the goons shall remain behind bars. The cops would also ensure the properties of the goons are also seized through court.
The trend of the growing crime graph of the city has propelled the city police’s think-tank to ensure that habitual offenders, with repeated crimes, are brought under the scanner. Several hardened goons, familiar with the loopholes of the criminal justice system, are learnt to be repeatedly avoiding hearing dates over a prolonged period of time and thereby, creating hurdles before the trial process in courts.
The city police top brass comprising CP BK Upadhyay, Joint CP Ravindra Kadam and Addl CP (crime) Nilesh Bharne have adopted the strategy to reign in goons and gangsters after the trend of their involvement in crimes as perpetrators or masterminds were seen on the rise. With the prime focus of keeping the election period peaceful and crime-free, there is now a heightened priority of the top cops to either keep the goons with serious crimes behind bars or out of city limits during the critical period. Even anti-social elements, with past crime records, have been informally warned and told to avoid remaining in the city until the elections are over.
Bharne, an officer of the rank of deputy inspector general of police, said a list of such hardened goons is being prepared and those remaining absent on their hearing dates for days and stretching trials to remain out. “We would apply before the courts seeking to invoke the relevant provision of Criminal procedure code (CrPC) to ensure the goons who are evading summons and non-bailable warrants (NBW) to be declared ‘Proclaimed offenders’. Subsequently, the goons would not be able to secure bail after being declared ‘Proclaimed offenders’,” said Bharne. The senior IPS officer later stated that there would also be subsequent procedure of seeking the court’s order on seizure of the goons’ properties.
Bharne said the detailed records of the top goons on the run are now being prepared at the crime branch which would be later distributed to the police stations for action. “Crime branch will take the initiative to begin the drive which would be followed by the similar efforts from the police stations. The goons across the city should feel the heat,” said the IPS officer.
THE PLAN
* Prepare list of dreaded goons who are skipping trials or court hearings
* Investigation officer to submit applications before court for declaring goons on the run as ‘Proclaimed offenders’
* Goons would not be able to seek bail after being declared proclaimed offenders
* Goons who remain away even after being declared ‘Proclaimed offenders’ would face punitive action like property seizure through court’s order