‘Like water off duck's back': Vadodara court on Nagpur cops' apology over non-execution of warrant in alimony case

Indian Express

08-05-2025

Even as it likened their apology to the court to 'water off duck's back', following their failure to execute warrants issued against a Nagpur businessman in the case of outstanding maintenance dues to his Vadodara-based wife, a family court here recently recalled and set aside its earlier order directing filing of FIR against two officers of Maharashtra Police.
The officers included the Superintendent of Police (SP), Rural, Harsh Poddar and an inspector of the police station concerned.
The order noted the submissions of the advocates representing the officers and drew attention to an email sent on April 2 by the SP to the court to tender 'his unconditional apology by explaining the detailed facts about gross negligence…on the part of the Police Inspector, Cyber Cell as well as Police Inspector Umred Police station and other concerned… for not drawing his attention toward (the) show cause notice and warrants as issued…'
Although the Vadodara Family Court Judge P H Singh accepted the 'unconditional apology' of the two officers, in its order dated April 30, he likened the same to 'water off duck's back.'
Stating that it had initiated the exercise to 'give justice to the original application — a destitute wife, whose right was deprived due to not serving distress warrant', the court noted that the purpose had been fulfilled as the accused was arrested and produced before the family court on April 2.
'The (husband) was taken into judicial custody and later on, the opponent had paid the entire outstanding amount due…,' the court said.
'Therefore, considering the facts, though the facts averred and submitted in the unconditional apology (of Nagpur Rural SP) is an afterthought… it is like water off a duck's back, and though this court is of the view that the conduct of (Nagpur Rural SP, PI Umred and PI Cyber Cell) is not condonable, then also… the main purpose to initiate all exercise was to give justice to the original applicant…' the order noted.
On April 2, the court had convicted and sentenced the 40-year-old husband to approximately six years in prison in three cases of recovery of maintenance, filed by his 36-year-old estranged wife for an unpaid amount of Rs 18.60 lakh.
The Nagpur-based man, who was produced before the family court by the Maharashtra Police on April 2, following the court's March 29 direction to lodge an FIR against the police officers for 'intentionally disobeying court directions', was facing a total of nine years in prison for non-payment of a total monthly maintenance amount of approximately Rs 33 lakh to his estranged wife.