A trader in Patna seeking divorce from his wife was arrested and had to spend a night in a police lock-up due to a Bihar cop’s poor English. The police officer mistook the word ‘warrant’ to an arrest warrant and put the man behind bars. However, the ‘warrant’ written on top of the court order wasn’t meant for arrest. It was a notice to evaluate the man’s property details as he had not paid maintenance to his wife.
Neeraj Kumar from Jehanabad district was arrested on November 25 and produced before a family court in Patna the next day. “The court realised that the police had goofed up and immediately ordered my release,” Neeraj told TOI over phone.
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The report further stated that Jehanabad ASP Pankaj Kumar admitted the mistake saying the document actually read “if Neeraj failed to give Rs 2,500 maintenance per month to his wife Renu Devi, steps be taken to assess and send to the court the details of his immovable properties”. He also said, “Nowhere in the document was police directed to arrest Neeraj.”
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Family court lawyer Yashwant Kumar Sharma said such a document issued by the court is called “distress warrant” which seeks to assess property details of a husband. However, cops mistook it for arrest warrant.
