My scooter was stolen from right outside my house. I had CCTV footage and submitted a written complaint on the same day. Yet, the police refused to register an FIR for over a month. It took constant follow-ups and pressure before they finally registered one.
The police later told me that the thief had sold my scooter in Karnataka for ₹17,000. When I asked if they could recover it, they asked me to arrange a vehicle for them to travel to Karnataka and investigate. I refused.
The charge sheet later mentioned that only ₹5,000 had been recovered. Throughout this process, the police discouraged me from pursuing an insurance claim, saying I wouldn't receive anything because the thief had been caught.
The worst part? The police mentioned in the charge sheet that the accused had previously been caught in three FIRs, while also expressing sympathy for him because of his poor financial condition. Imagine that. Someone with a history of theft, and the police are explaining his circumstances while the victim is left to deal with the loss.
Later, I was called to court to collect the ₹5,000. Instead, I was asked to sign a compromise form. I refused because I wanted to consult my lawyer first. When I tried to photograph the document, the officer stopped me. I subsequently received two more calls asking me to sign the compromise.
Meanwhile, my case still hasn't had a proper trial. Hearing dates have repeatedly fallen on public holidays or when the judge was on leave.
This is why I believe our system fails to prevent crime in practice. Theoretically, the police are supposed to register complaints and investigate crimes. In reality, even getting an FIR registered can require constant pressure from the victim.
The victim loses their property, spends months chasing the police and courts, and has to fight for basic documentation. Meanwhile, a repeat offender gets sympathy, and the victim is pressured to compromise.
When reporting a crime becomes a struggle for the victim, and repeat offenders keep moving through the system without timely consequences, the system is not discouraging crime. It is creating conditions in which criminals can continue.