Karnataka High Court fines police officers for illegal arrest

The Karnataka High Court has criticized the Whitefield Police Station for a recurring pattern of illegal arrests, specifically regarding the misuse of Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

In one instance, the court addressed the arrest of KN Mohan Reddy, an attesting witness to a Will. The court noted that police took the petitioner into custody nearly 48 hours before he was even required to appear for investigation as directed by a notice. Justice M. Nagaprasanna stated, “A notice to appear tomorrow cannot become a licence to arrest today.”

As a result, the court imposed an exemplary cost of ₹3,00,000 on the Investigating Officer, Sunil Kumar KR, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, and a Deputy Commissioner of Police. The court ordered that this amount be paid from their personal income rather than the state exchequer, citing supervisory dereliction by higher-ranking officers.