Mumbai: Cops can’t demand affidavit for missing articles complaint

CP Hemant Nagrale warned that a departmental action would be taken if policemen are found asking complainants to submit an affidavit. File pic

Filing a police complaint over missing articles or documents, like passport, cheque books and driving license, becomes easy. Mumbai Commissioner of Police (CP) Hemant Nagrale has directed all police stations to stop demanding affidavits from the public in case of lost personal items.

A police officer told mid-day that many a time, people lose their documents while travelling via a public transport or misplace them, and need a copy. "To get a duplicate copy, they have to file a police complaint. But when people come to the police station to make a complaint, they are asked to submit an affidavit from a notary to authenticate their claim."

However, the CP's order has put an end to the hassle. In a circular, he has stated, "It has come to my knowledge that when a complainant comes to the police station to complain about the loss of passport, cheque book, driving license or any other document, the constable asks the complainant to bring an affidavit from the notary of the lost document."

It added, "There is no such law that an affidavit should be made to make a missing complaint for any missing document. Even though there is no such rule, the complainant is asked to make an affidavit, due to which the complainant gets in trouble.

"If any person comes to the police station with a complaint of a lost item or a lost document, then the policeman will not demand any kind of affidavit from the complainant to take the missing complaint." Nagrale warned that a departmental action would be taken if policemen are found asking complainants to submit an affidavit.

Mumbai police spokesperson DCP Chaitanya S told mid-day that the CP issued the circular "keeping in mind that the general public shouldn't face any problem."