Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Nov 22: The Judicial Magistrate First Class, Merces, has directed the Panaji police to register a First Information Report (FIR) in a complaint of alleged vehicle theft, criticising the police for demanding proof of ownership before taking action.

Judicial Magistrate Ankita Ramesh Nagvenkar observed that the complaint by Bhavit Bharat Parekh clearly indicated a cognisable offence, making FIR registration mandatory. Parekh had approached the court under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) after the police failed to act on his complaint.

The court clarified that proof of ownership is not required at the FIR registration stage and emphasised that even a single cognisable offence obligates the police to act. The order stated, “The Respondents were required to properly consider the complaint and act on it. Theft is a cognisable offence. Therefore, it is appropriate to direct the Panaji police to register the FIR and carry out the necessary investigation.”

The court’s intervention underscores the legal requirement for prompt police action in cognisable offences, regardless of ownership verification at the initial stage.