Ludhiana: The Punjab State and Chandigarh Human Rights Commission has launched an inquiry into allegations that the city police flouted Supreme Court guidelines by coercing an 85-year-old doctor and her ailing husband into a police station for questioning, which sent the woman onto oxygen support.The directive follows a complaint by Dr Sumeet Sofat, who alleges that officials at the Division Number 8 police station and Ghumar Mandi post used “defective” legal notices to harass his family. The row stems from a Dec 2024 incident where five family members were booked for allegedly obstructing an income tax raid at their properties.Allegations of Procedural MalpracticeDr Sofat claims the police issued notices under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) that were riddled with errors, including incorrect dates and addresses. He argues the move directly contradicts the Supreme Court’s mandate in Satender Kumar Antil versus the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which aims to curb arbitrary police power. Furthermore, the complaint states that the offences cited are non-cognisable, meaning the police had no authority to exercise such broad powers without a warrant.The most damning portion of the complaint involves the treatment of the family’s matriarch, Dr Rama Sofat. Despite legal protections—including Section 179 of the BNSS, which exempts the elderly and women from being forced to visit police stations — officers allegedly insisted the 85-year-old appear in person. “Due to this illegal coercion, my mother’s health deteriorated sharply after the visit,” Dr Sofat said. “She is now on continuous oxygen support as a direct result of the pressure exerted by the officials.”Official ResponseThe commission has determined that the allegations are serious enough to warrant a high-level review. It has directed the Ludhiana police commissioner to examine the conduct of the officers involved and ensure “appropriate action” is taken. Inspector Amritpal Sharma, station house officer (SHO) of Division Number 8, did not respond to requests for comment.
