Madras High Court Issues Guidelines to Prevent Police Harassment in Criminal Investigations

The Madras High Court has issued guidelines to curb police harassment during investigations, responding to a plea by Rippling co-founder Prasanna Sankaranarayanan, who alleged harassment by Tamil Nadu police amid his divorce and child custody dispute.

The Court, citing Section 528 of BNSS, 2023, emphasized that police must follow due process. It mandated written summons under Section 179, proper documentation, and adherence to the Lalita Kumari judgment.

It also directed that harassment claims be assessed objectively and that officers ensure transparency and accountability by properly recording all steps taken during investigations.

With these directives, the plea was disposed of, aiming to prevent future police excesses.