How to deal with police harassment in India?

Asked by: Arnold Ruecker  |  Last update: October 19, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (23 votes)

To file a Complaint First of all, you should make a contact to PCA and ask for a prescribed Format in which a person can submit the complaint. A person can send a complaint via Post, Fax or submit it in person. Note: The complaint is needed to be filed or lodged as quickly as possible after the incident.

How do I complain about harassment to the police in India?

Approach the Superintendent of Police (SP) — You should make a complaint in writing, and send it to the SP of your district, by post. The SP will consider your complaint, and if he feels that your complaint reports a cognizable offence, he will direct the police to investigate your case or investigate it himself.

How to prove someone is harassing you?

Testimonies from the accuser and witnesses are often considered the most reliable and impactful evidence. Audio or video recordings and photographs can also be used to provide evidence in a harassment case. Forensic evidence, such as emails and text messages, can be used if available.

How to deal with allegations of harassment?

When dealing with harassment in the workplace as an employer, it's crucial to take every complaint seriously, act promptly, maintain confidentiality, conduct thorough investigations, provide support to the complainant, and take appropriate corrective actions to prevent recurrence and ensure a safe and respectful work ...

What is the law for police harassment in India?

Can police officers be arrested for harassment? Yes, according to Section 29 of the Indian Police Act, a police officer can be punished with imprisonment up to three months and/or a fine up to three months' salary if they have failed to fulfil their responsibility or have indulged in misbehaviour.

Laws You Must Know To Handle Misconduct By Police In India | NewsMo

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Can you sue police in India?

One of the forms of external mechanism for holding the police accountable for misconduct is through the courts, where complainants can directly sue police officers for alleged abuse of powers. The police can be held liable under criminal law, public law or through private tortious liability.

Can you argue with a police officer?

Arguing with a police officer in a way that impedes or delays an arrest can have serious consequences. A resisting arrest charge is a misdemeanor in California. A conviction can result in a fine of up to $1,000 and/or a jail term of not more than 1 year.

What are 3 actions that are considered harassment?

Offensive conduct may include, but is not limited to, offensive jokes, slurs, epithets or name calling, physical assaults or threats, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs, offensive objects or pictures, and interference with work performance.

What happens when you file a police report for harassment?

Evidence will be reviewed by whomever is assigned to do so. Further investigation may be necessary. Once the evidence is reviewed, a decision will be made to file charges against the accused or find that there is not enough evidence to pursue charges.

How do you win a harassment case?

To win a harassment case, you must prove that you have been harassed. To prove this, you must show how the workplace is a hostile environment. What's important to understand is that it is not enough for you to feel the workplace is hostile or abusive; any reasonable person would feel harassed in the same workplace.

How much evidence is needed to charge someone with harassment?

Your giving a statement and handing over any relevant communications to the police will cause them to investigate and potentially lay charges. You don't need any corroborative evidence if you could potentially testify to the fact that you became fearful, and why. But you do have at least some here.

How do you protect yourself from someone harassing you?

You can also get a restraining order to protect yourself and your family from the harasser. You'll need to file a petition for a restraining order, have it served to the person harassing you, and have a court hearing during which a judge will rule on what specific protections the restraining order will provide.

Can you sue someone for harassment without proof?

You need to prove beyond reasonable doubt that your neighbor committed abusive behavior to entitle you to a legal remedy. If your neighbor is causing problems, you may need to: Get a restraining order if they are threatening you or acting dangerously.

Are police allowed to harass you?

The police have legal grounds to be able to speak to citizens and investigate certain possible crimes, but their efforts to obtain relevant information cannot cross a line into unnecessary force or harassment. If and when this happens, a victim has legal rights.

How do I file a complaint with the police in India?

The procedure to file a police complaint is given below: Inform- You go to the police station and inform the police about the offence. Written form-If you provide information orally, the police will write it down for you. You can also choose to write down your complaint yourself (we recommend this).

What is Section 29 of the Indian Police Act?

Section 29 of the Indian Police Act, 1861 is related to the penalties for the neglect of duty. shall be liable, on conviction before a Magistrate, to a penalty not exceeding three months' pay, or to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a period not exceeding three months, or to both.

How do you stop police from harassing you?

Remedies and Legal Actions Against Police Harassment

You can file a complaint through the law enforcement agency's internal affairs division and/or a civilian oversight board.

How long does harassment stay on your record?

If you were accused of minor charges, chances are it will stay on your record for approximately two years. For example, trespassing and some forms of sexual harassment are considered misdemeanor offenses. These records will remain within your criminal history for about two years after the date of the incident occurred.

What is an example of police harassment?

Examples of Police Harassment

Use of excessive force. Racial or ethnic profiling. Illegal “stop and frisk” without objectively reasonable suspicion. Making sexist, racist, or homophobic comments.

What is the punishment for harassment in India?

The offender would be booked under section 294 of the Indian Penal Code and would be liable for an imprisonment up to three years or with a fine or both.

What is the best way to deal with harassment?

There are two different routes that you can take:
  1. Report harassment to the police. If someone is making you feel uncomfortable or unsafe and they have behaved in this way more than once, you can report them to the police. ...
  2. Take your harasser to court.

How do you deal with a bad cop?

It is best to remain calm and say as little as possible in these interactions. If misconduct is committed by law enforcement, you can contact a civil rights attorney after the encounter is over. For your own safety, never escalate a police encounter by arguing with officers.

Is insulting a cop illegal?

Insults are protected by the First Amendment.

It was written to make sure people couldn't be imprisoned just for criticizing, insulting, or poking fun at authorities. This protection has been upheld by several Supreme Court cases, including: 1949, Terminello v. Chicago.