Police corruption and fake FIRs in India have emerged as one of the most alarming forms of systemic abuse and misuse of power, where law enforcement officers exploit their authority through fabricated cases, extortion, and harassment, making urgent police reforms and effective legal remedies the need of the hour.
In India, the police are often hailed as guardians of law and order, but growing cases of corruption, fabricated FIRs, and misuse of power have cast a long shadow on the institution. From planting fake evidence to registering false cases, instances of police misconduct are increasingly being exposed in courts and media. One such recent case is that of Irfan Ali in Delhi, who has been fighting a false case for over two decades after police allegedly fabricated charges against him. His ordeal is not an isolated incident but a reflection of a systemic problem that threatens citizens’ trust in justice.
Police Corruption and Fake FIRs in India: A Deepening Crisis of Misuse of Power
The menace of police corruption and fake FIRs in India is not limited to isolated incidents. From junior constables to senior officials, many have been implicated in framing innocent citizens, demanding bribes, and colluding with criminals. Political interference and weak recruitment processes have even allowed individuals with criminal backgrounds to infiltrate the force. This systemic rot erodes public trust and leaves ordinary citizens vulnerable. To understand the gravity, here are real-life case stories of victims who suffered due to police misuse of power and fabricated FIRs in India.
Real-Life Cases of Police Corruption, Misuse of Power, and Fake FIRs in India
- Irfan Ali’s 34-Year Battle Against Fake FIRs in Delhi (1990)
In 1990, Irfan Ali, a garments merchant from Delhi, lent ₹30,000 to constable Abdul Qadir. When Qadir refused repayment, he framed Ali in 55 fake FIRs, branding him a thief, terrorist, and “bad character.” Ali spent 11 months in jail and fought for decades before acquittal. Despite this, Qadir was promoted. Ali continues to seek an apology and ₹80 lakh compensation. - Sanjiv Bhatt: A Profile of Controversy and Legal Battles
Sanjiv Bhatt, a former Gujarat IPS officer, has been involved in several high-profile legal cases and controversies. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019 for a 1990 custodial death and to 20 years in 2024 for a 1996 drug planting case. Bhatt was acquitted in a 1997 custodial torture case. His career became contentious after he filed an affidavit during the 2002 Gujarat riots, alleging directives from senior authorities, which led to his suspension in 2011 and dismissal in 2015. Bhatt also raised allegations regarding the 2003 Haren Pandya murder and the involvement of Tulsiram Prajapati. His career highlights the intersection of police accountability, political pressures, and ongoing debates over justice and reforms in India’s policing system. - Gujarat’s Kheda District Bribery and Fake FIR Threats (2022)
In Kheda, Gujarat, two officers demanded ₹3.75 lakh from a woman, threatening false FIRs under the Gujarat Money Lenders Act. The Anti-Corruption Bureau registered a case in 2022, exposing misuse of power. - Delhi Police Extortion via Fake FIRs in EMIs (2021)
In 2021, two Delhi head constables at Patparganj Police Station were caught accepting ₹10,000 as part of a ₹50,000 bribe. They threatened a woman trader with a fabricated FIR and even negotiated the bribe in “easy monthly installments.” - Maharashtra’s Senior Officer Extortion Using Fake FIRs (2019)
In Mumbai, senior police officials in 2019 extorted businesses by threatening them with fabricated FIRs, highlighting how high-ranking officers perpetuate corruption. - Punjab’s Fake NDPS Case and Police Corruption (2019)
Kehar Singh from Haryana was falsely implicated in a fabricated NDPS Act case at Indri Police Station, Karnal in 2019. He was acquitted in 2024 and now seeks action against officers. - Delhi’s Fake Currency Case and Evidence Manipulation (2007)
In 2007, Punjab’s Ahmedgarh Police Station allegedly forced accused Amit Kumar to arrange fake case property in a counterfeit currency case, exposing evidence tampering. - Tamil Nadu’s ED Officer Arrest and Corruption Allegations (2022)
In 2022, an Enforcement Directorate officer was arrested by Tamil Nadu Police in a corruption case, sparking jurisdictional clashes and exposing misuse of power. - Hyderabad’s Fake Encounter and Fabricated Evidence (2019)
A commission investigated the 2019 Hyderabad “encounter” where police staged the killing of four accused, including minors, revealing fabricated evidence. - Punjab’s Fake Registration Case and Police Complicity (2020)
In 2020, a truck with a fake registration certificate led to FIRs under multiple IPC sections. Investigations revealed police complicity in ignoring forged documents. - Delhi’s Vigilance Crackdown on Extortion and Fake FIRs (2023)
In 2023, Delhi Police’s Vigilance Unit acted against three officers from Hari Nagar Police Station for extorting ₹50,000 via false FIR threats related to Aadhaar/PAN misuse. Another woman was coerced into paying ₹1.85 lakh over a fake Instagram account probe. - Madhya Pradesh’s Fabricated Evidence in Murder Case (2023)
In Om Prakash Yadav vs. Niranjan Kumar Upadhyay (2023), the Supreme Court allowed prosecution of officers accused of fabricating evidence to shield a murder suspect. - Haryana’s Police Recruitment Scam and Corruption (2017)
A ₹42 lakh recruitment scam in 2017 saw complainant Gurmeet Singh wrongly framed as an accused, exposing corruption networks in police recruitment. - Assam’s Police Brutality and Corruption Case (2021)
In 2021, Inspector Bhargav Borbora assaulted a delivery worker, highlighting police brutality along with corruption. - Datia’s False FIR Against Complainants in Madhya Pradesh (2020)
In 2020, complainants in Datia were slapped with a fake FIR after approaching police for help, exposing intimidation tactics.
Criminal Infiltration in Police Force Fueling Misuse of Power
Weak vetting and political interference allow individuals with criminal backgrounds to enter the police, where they collude with gangs, extort citizens, and use fake FIRs as tools of intimidation, further deepening public mistrust.
Legal Provisions Against Fake FIRs and Police Corruption in India
India provides multiple legal frameworks to hold officers accountable for police corruption and misuse of power:
- Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988: Sections 7 and 13 punish bribery and criminal misconduct.
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: Sections 197, 221, 336, and 351(2) address forgery, breach of trust, and criminal intimidation.
- CrPC: Section 156(3) allows magistrates to order investigations; Section 482 empowers High Courts to quash frivolous FIRs.
- Indian Evidence Act: Sections 24 and 114 declare coerced evidence inadmissible and allow courts to presume mala fide intent.
- Supreme Court Judgments: Om Prakash Yadav (2023) enables prosecution of corrupt officers without prior sanction; Lalita Kumari (2014) mandates accountability in FIRs.
- Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993: NHRC/SHRC can investigate police corruption, extrajudicial actions, and fake FIRs.
Legal Remedies for Victims of Police Misuse of Power and Fabricated FIRs
Victims can pursue several remedies:
- Filing complaints with magistrates (CrPC Section 156(3))
- Seeking to quash fake FIRs (CrPC Section 482)
- Lodging criminal complaints against officers
- Approaching NHRC or State Human Rights Commissions
- Filing writ petitions in High Courts or Supreme Court
- Civil suits for compensation
- Reporting to Anti-Corruption Bureaus or Vigilance Units
- Seeking disciplinary action
- Public Interest Litigations (PILs) for systemic reforms
- Approaching Lokpal or Lokayukta
Police Reform Examples to End Fake FIRs and Corruption in India
Actionable reforms include:
- Independent oversight bodies (UK’s IOPC model)
- Mandatory body cameras (US and pilot programs in India)
- Rigorous recruitment and vetting (Singapore model)
- Fast-track courts for fake FIR cases
- Whistleblower protection laws (Australia)
- Community policing models (Kerala’s Janamaithri)
- Digital FIR and case tracking systems (Telangana E-Policing)
- Ethics and human rights training (Canada RCMP model)
- Zero-tolerance anti-corruption agencies (Hong Kong ICAC model)
- Citizen reporting platforms (South Africa’s IPID model)
FAQs on Police Corruption, Fake FIRs, and Misuse of Power in India
Q: Why do police officers file fake FIRs in India?
A: To extort money, settle disputes, or boost arrest records. Examples include Irfan Ali’s 55 fake FIRs.
Q: What legal remedies exist for victims of fake FIRs?
A: Victims can quash FIRs (CrPC 482), file complaints (CrPC 156(3)), approach NHRC, file civil suits, or demand departmental action.
Q: How can prosecution be initiated against officers fabricating false cases?
A: By invoking CrPC 156(3) for court-monitored investigation or relying on Om Prakash Yadav (2023), allowing prosecution without prior sanction.
Q: What punishments exist for police guilty of fabricating evidence or FIRs?
A: Jail under the Prevention of Corruption Act, departmental dismissal, and human rights prosecution.
Q: How can police reforms stop fake FIRs?
A: Digital FIR systems, strict recruitment, body cameras, and whistleblower protections can reduce misuse.
Q: How does the judiciary tackle police corruption?
A: Courts quash fake FIRs, order compensation, and allow direct prosecution of corrupt officers.
Ending Police Corruption, Misuse of Power, and Fake FIRs in India
From Irfan Ali’s decades-long battle in Delhi to IPS Officer Sanjeev Bhatt’s Gujrat ordeal, these stories expose how fake FIRs in India are weaponized against innocent citizens. Legal provisions, judicial remedies, and human rights mechanisms exist, but weak enforcement perpetuates corruption. Urgent reforms—including independent oversight, digital policing, body cameras, and community engagement—are essential to restore trust and accountability. Without decisive action, ordinary citizens will continue to suffer under police corruption, misuse of power, and fabricated FIRs in India.