Pune Market Yard senior inspector suspended for not filing FIR in Rs 30 lakh jewellery theft

Vishwajeet Jagtap, senior police inspector of Market Yard police station in Pune, has been suspended. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar issued the order on Wednesday, October 28. According to the order, Jagtap did not register an FIR in a serious theft case.

The order says jewellery worth Rs 30 lakh was stolen in the Market Yard police station area. The complainant went to the police station to give information and file a formal complaint. The order says this was clearly a cognisable offence, meaning an FIR had to be registered. Instead, Jagtap only entered it in the station diary. The order says this effectively suppressed a serious crime.

The order calls this a major lapse. It says Jagtap's attitude shows indiscipline and irresponsibility and harms the image of the police in the public eye. He has been suspended from the date of the order for dereliction of duty and lax conduct.

The suspension will remain subject to the outcome of a departmental inquiry that is to be initiated in the matter. The order was issued under Rule 3(1-A)(i)(a) of the Maharashtra Police (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1956, read with Section 25 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951.

During the suspension, Jagtap will receive a subsistence allowance under Rule 68 of the Maharashtra Civil Services Rules. He will continue to receive the city compensatory allowance and house rent allowance at the rates he was drawing just before the suspension. Dearness allowance will also be paid on the subsistence allowance.

To draw the allowance, he must submit a certificate every month stating that he has not taken up any private employment, business or other paid work. If he does any such work, he will not get the allowance for that period.

Jagtap will not be entitled to leave of any kind during this period. He will need permission from the Additional Commissioner of Police (Administration), Pune City, to leave headquarters. He must also report every day to the police inspector at the Pune City control room throughout the suspension.