Man behind bars due to cop’s poor English

What would happen if a law enforcing agency is not well-versed with the Queen’s language? Chances are Miscarriage of justice.

In yet another major goof-up by the Bihar police, a young trader landed in police lock-up as the cops failed to understand the court order written in English. The men-in-khaki mistook a “distress warrant” as an “arrest warrant” and after apprehending the person put him in the police lock-up.

It was only when the arrested trader was produced before the court, the judge pointed out to the police about the faux pas and ordered his immediate release.

Actually, a family court in Patna had issued a ‘warrant’ against a businessman from Jehanabad, Neeraj Kumar, who failed to pay a monthly maintenance of Rs 2500 to his estranged wife with whom he had been fighting a long-drawn divorce battle. The court warrant, also known as “distress warrant” (in legal terms), was issued primarily to assess Neeraj’s property so that the court could decide about the quantum of alimony.

But unable to differentiate between a “distress warrant” and an “arrest warrant”, the cops arrested Neeraj and put him in the lockup.

The court order had, however, said that if Neeraj failed to give Rs 2500 monthly as maintenance to his wife Renu, then steps be initiated to assess his immovable property and inform the court.

“But the over-zealous cops put me behind bars,” said Neeraj after being freed by the court.

The Jehanabad ASP, Pankaj Kumar, admitted goof-up by the local police station and said, “Nowhere in the document, the court had asked the cops to arrest the trader.”