Acting on directives of the Maharashtra State Police Complaint Authority (MSPCA), the Director General of Police (DGP) office has issued a circular instructing all 11 police commissionerates and units across the state to circulate the ‘Lalita Kumari vs State of UP and others’ Supreme Court judgment and ensure strict adherence to FIR registration guidelines. MSPCA, in its order dated June 5, 2025, directed the Maharashtra DGP to circulate the conclusions drawn by the apex court in the case to all police stations and chowkies, categorically directing them to observe and follow the same.
In a letter to the SPCA dated August 21, written by Special IG Manoj Kumar Sharma, on behalf of the DGP, informed that instructions have been issued to circulate the judgment copies of the Lalita Kumari verdict along with key guidelines for registering FIRs, instructions to all police commissionerates, and other local units across the state. Sharma also mentioned that Model Code and circulars have been issued regarding the Indian Civil Code.
The move comes after the MSPCA took serious note of a complaint filed by Junior Intelligence Officer Saikumar Suryakant Mehta, who alleged that the Satara police refused to register an FIR after he was allegedly assaulted by his superior officer Hitesh Inamke in May 2024, resulting in a spinal fracture. Despite medical reports and internal complaints, only a non-cognisable offence was recorded.
Mehta, who is posted in the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau in Satara, initially complained to his department’s seniors in Pune and Mumbai the same day. But after no action was taken, he approached the Satara police after due medical examination and treatment, and filed a complaint. However, despite submitting medical reports and certificates, the police did not register an FIR in the matter, prompting Mehta to move MSPCA. Mehta’s complaint stated that though prima facie a cognisable offence was committed by Inamke, the police only recorded a non-cognisable offence against him.
The police officers in question claimed before MSPCA that since the certificate dated June 13, 2024, issued by District General Hospital, Satara, did not disclose any fracture to vertebra of the complainant, disclosed only “simple injury”, and did not disclose any external injury, they recorded a no-cognisable offence in the matter under IPC Sections 323, 504 and 506 on June 21, 2024.
MSPCA chairperson, Justice (retired) Shrihari Davare, member Umakant Mitkar, and retired IAS officer Vijay Satbir Singh, after hearing both sides, citing conclusions drawn by the SC in the aforementioned case, found that by not lodging a cognisable offence, the four police officers involved committed a serious violation of law or abused their authority, as contemplated under Section 22Q (1)(a)(viii) of the Maharashtra Police (Amendment & Continuance) Act, 2014.
In the order passed on June 5, MSPCA said the state government should treat the same as a preliminary inquiry to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the four policemen, including then Satara SP Sameer Sheikh, Inspector Rajendra Masake, Sub-Inspector Avinash Gavli, and Assistant Inspector Amit Shitole — all then attached to Satara city police station. MSPCA also ordered that it be informed of the disciplinary proceedings or legal action taken against the four officers. The authority exonerated a fifth policeman as the case against him could not be established.
