3 days ago
Maharashtra Rights Commission Questions Akola Police Over Apology Video
The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission is reviewing a video posted by Akola Police.
It showed a man named Shaikh Kasam Shaikhji apologising at a police station.
The police shared the video on their official Instagram account.
No offence had been registered against him for the alleged act.
The Commission said that making and sharing the video may have harmed his right to dignity.
Police said they posted it to help prevent crime and inform the public.
The Commission has asked for the police department's rules for posting on Instagram.
It also wants an officer to explain how the video was made and shared.
The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission said Akola Police may have violated a man's right to dignity by posting his apology video.
The video showed Shaikh Kasam Shaikhji apologising at a police station and was shared on the department's official Instagram account.
Police confirmed no offence had been registered against Shaikhji over the alleged derogatory video clip.
Akola District Superintendent of Police Archit Chandak said the upload was a preventive measure intended to control crime and raise public awareness.
The Commission asked the Maharashtra Director General of Police for the department's social media policy and ordered an officer to explain how the video was made and posted.
- Who
- The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, Akola Police and complainant Shaikh Kasam Shaikhji.
- What
- The Commission questioned police over recording and posting Shaikhji's apology video, finding prima facie that the action violated his right to dignity.
- Where
- Akola, Maharashtra; the video was posted on Akola Police's official Instagram account.
- When
- The report is dated October 6, 2026.
- Why
- The Commission questioned why police required an apology and circulated the video when no offence had been registered against Shaikhji.
Commission's concerns
Police explanation
Reason for posting the video
Commission's concerns
The Commission questioned the authority for calling Shaikhji to the station and requiring him to apologise when no offence had been registered.
Police explanation
The Akola District SP's report said the video was uploaded as a preventive measure to control crime and for public awareness.
Effect of the video
Commission's concerns
The Commission said circulating the apology through the department's official Instagram account violated the individual's right to dignity and appeared prima facie to be an abuse of power.
Police explanation
The police report said the upload did not fall within the category of defamation.
Key facts
- Commission
- Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission
- Complainant
- Shaikh Kasam Shaikhji
- Police officers named
- Police Sub-Inspector Yogesh Chavhanke, Police Head Constable Shrikant Pawar and Police Constable Ashish Nandokar
- Police explanation
- Akola District SP Archit Chandak's report described the upload as a preventive measure to control crime and raise public awareness.
- Offence registration
- Police confirmed no offence had been registered against Shaikhji for creating the alleged derogatory video clip.
- Commission's assessment
- The police action appeared prima facie to violate Shaikhji's right to dignity and could amount to abuse of power.
- Commission's directions
- Seek the Maharashtra DGP's policy on official Instagram content and require PSI Yogesh Chavhanke to explain the video's creation and upload.
Quotes
Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission
The state commission examining Shaikhji’s complaint against Akola Police.
“The Commission observes that the act of the Police Department is in violation of the right to dignity of the individual. Further, calling the complainant to the Police Station and recording a video of him apologising for an act that was not treated as a crime amounts to an abuse of power by the authority.”
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Sources
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