> On 24-Apr-06, at 3:06 PM, Udhay Shankar N wrote: > >> Write to the Commissioner of Police, with prominent CC marked to the >> City Desk at the Times of India (they love muckraking) and you should >> see action fairly quickly. > > Manish is concerned that should the cop decide to retaliate with a > bogus charge, it'll become a sticky point the next time he travels > abroad on work. Is this an issue? >
Probably not. Everyone knows how the cops mess around - if the whole thing gets publicity that sharply reduces the chances of a bogus charge, not the other way around. In any case I don't think they will bother. If he's concerned about getting his passport confiscated and/or being told not to leave the country - that needs to be done by a court if memory serves correctly - I don't think a random cop can do it, especially one junior enough that he's still on the night patrol. However, some visa applications,etc ask very broad questions which essentially amount to asking "Have you ever been in trouble with the police?". If there is a bogus charge, he might have to disclose that on such forms (or he could choose not to disclose it, if he's comfortable with the risk - the chances of being found out are pretty low). Frankly, I think the chances of a bogus charge are so remote, I don't think it is an issue. It's much more likely (albeit still remote) that the cop will be waiting for him tomorrow night at the same place and threaten to break his legs if he goes any further with the publicity. In any case, more publicity is protection, not the other way around. Badri PS - This is not to be construed as legal advice, he's not my client, etc, etc..
