‘Communicate with seniors via multiple channels’

In the backdrop of the Pen police personnel not registering a murder or even accidental death report (ADR) after finding an unidentified woman’s body (which turned out to be that of Sheena Bora) in a burnt suitcase in 2012 — allegedly on instructions of Raigad superintendent R.D. Shinde, Maharashtra’s director general of police Praveen Dixit said in such situations the subordinate must communicate through multiple channels with more than one senior.

When asked what a constable or a police officer should do when his immediate senior asks him to carry out an illegal activity or turn a blind eye to any crime, Mr Dixit replied briefly, “They should use multiple channels to communicate with seniors.” The DGP added that there has been no circular issued in this regard till now.

The inaction shown by the Pen police in Raigad district in 2012 by not registering a murder case after finding the decomposed body of a woman burnt inside a suitcase, has raised many questions — not only among the general public but also as to whether it had deliberately overlooked the crime to shield rich and powerful accused like former media baron Peter Mukerjea, his wife Indrani and Sanjiv Khanna, all charged with murder, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence in the Sheena Bora murder case.

Even as Mr Shinde, presently additional commissioner of central region, has been found guilty in an inquiry ordered by former DGP Sanjeev Dayal, the incident also brings to light the fact that Mr Shinde’s subordinates chose to quietly disregard the murder on his instructions.

Speaking about the course of action to be taken by subordinates during sticky situations, IPS officer turned lawyer Y.P. Singh said, “A subordinate is not required to follow an order from his/her senior if it violates a law. He/she should immediately submit a report against his senior to the higher ups.

“If he/she violates a law on orders from his senior then he/she too is responsible. Just like in the case of Lakhan Bhaiya fake encounter, the subordinates were convicted for following orders of their senior.”