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Rajasthan Grants While Ordering Probe Into Police Officer Making Social Reels
The of Judicature for Rajasthan at Jodhpur has granted to a driver accused in a vehicle incident while simultaneously ordering a probe into the conduct of a traffic police official. Justice Ashok Kumar Jain, presiding over the matter, underscored the necessity of accountability within law enforcement agencies regarding the misuse of social media platforms during duty.
A Controversial Incident on Public Roads
The case originated from an FIR registered on , at the , following an accident on where a young boy, identified as Lakshya, was injured by an Audi car. The accused, Barbdivya, was charged under , with the police later adding Section 110 of the same Act.
The defense counsel argued that the incident was not a , but rather a consequence of a staged scenario. It was submitted that the boy’s father, a Circle Inspector (C.I.) of the , was allegedly in the habit of creating social media reels on public roads to gain followers. According to the petitioner, the traffic officer stopped the vehicle, and his son jumped in front of it as part of a pre-planned "drama" for a social media viral video, leading to the unfortunate collision.
Legal Arguments and Judicial Discretion
The defense emphasized that the accused remained in for a significant period following his arrest on , and possessed no prior . It was noted that both parties were strangers to each other, supporting the claim that there was an absence of .
The Public Prosecutor opposed the application, maintaining that the accused performed dangerous stunts on public roads. However, the observed that the investigation was effectively concluded and that the applicant was no longer required for further .
Key Observations of the Court
The Court took a dim view of the police officer’s social media activities, highlighting the following:
"A Police Inspector indulged in preparing reels and further uploading them on social media, whether Instagram, Facebook or any other social media platform, with the assistance of his son, thereby creating a fan following, which itself is a very serious misconduct."
"The , is directed to conduct an inquiry and send a report to this Court within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order."
Court’s Decision and Future Implications
Justice Ashok Kumar Jain ordered the release of the applicant-accused upon furnishing a of ₹50,000 with two , subject to strictly defined conditions: refraining from tampering with evidence and attending all proceedings.
Beyond the immediate grant, the ’s directive to the Director General of Police (DGP) for a two-month inquiry signals a rigid stance against the use of public office for personal social media gains. This order marks a significant intervention, aiming to curb unprofessional conduct among law enforcement personnel who might compromise public safety for digital engagement.
