Kurla PSI Satish More becomes first ACCUSED of SPCA. More found guilty for keeping minor boy in lock-up for eight hours without lodging any complaint.

Ranjit Mahanti

POLICE sub-inspector (PSI) Satish More attached with Kurla police station has become the first ACCUSED of State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA). SPCA has recommended to home department to initiate departmental enquiry (DE) with major penalty against More. More has been found guilty for keeping a minor boy in lock up for eight hours in a oral complaint.

According to the case against More, on the midnight of November 4, 2016 Satish More locked up a 16-years-old boy (name held with ABI to protect identity as he is minor) in a mobile theft case. There was no complaint in writing or any entry in police diary. Boy’s father alleged that More demanded Rs 10,000 and accepted Rs 5,000 before releasing his son on the next day at 8 am. Boy’s father had complained to several authorities including Lokayukta against More for illegal detention of his son. Lokayukta forwarded complaint to SPCA for further action. After hearing both the parties SPCA authority found that More had illegally detained the boy for hours. CCTV footage also helped the authority to find out the truth. More’s all excuses found to be fake. He gave one excuse that boy’s father himself took boy in police station and asked to keep in lock up as he wandered in the area without reason. Finally, SPCA authority forwarded report to home department recommending departmental enquiry and major penalty against More.

Speaking to ABI (Akela Bureau of Investigation) a SPCA member confirmed that Satish More has been found guilty.

What is SPCA?
In January 2017, Maharashtra Government set up the State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA), after the Supreme Court (SC) issued directives for independent bodies to investigate complaints against policemen. People can approach the SPCA office to lodge complaints against police personnel for any alleged abuse of power. The SPCA is headed by a retired High Court (HC) judge and comprises retired Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers. The office is located at 4th floor, MTNL building, Cooperage, Maharshi Karve Road, Mumbai – 400021.