🚨 Police Mishandling & Wrong Information: When the Police Respond to the Wrong Case

The Right to Information (RTI) Act empowers citizens to seek information and brings transparency to governance.However, the system is only effective when public officials correctly execute their duties. In this particular case, issues of Police Mishandling & Wrong Information were evident. Mrs Mahima Maurya (Registration No. SPMZR/A/2025/60055) filed a recent appeal with the Superintendent of Police in Mirzapur. The appeal highlights a fundamental failure in the process. The Public Information Officer (PIO) completely responded to the wrong case.

This blog post analyzes the appeal. It details the precise information sought by the applicant versus the irrelevant information provided by the PIO. It explains why this failure is grounds for fixing accountability under the law.

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The Appeal: A Case of Mistaken Identity

Mrs. Mahima Maurya filed her original RTI application (SPMZR/R/2025/60300) on November 8, 2025. She sought updates and details on a specific cyber fraud case. The PIO, Manish Kumar Mishra, provided a reply dated November 27, 2025, which triggered this First Appeal under Section 19(1).

The appeal’s core argument is twofold. First, it argues that the information was incomplete. Additionally, it was entirely irrelevant to the applicant’s query.

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Information Sought vs. Information Provided (Police Mishandling & Wrong Information)

The PIO’s response was based on a police report concerning an “NCR” (Non-Cognizable Report) that led to a charge sheet. This completely missed the subject of the RTI application, which was a specific FIR (First Information Report).

Category	Information SOUGHT by Mrs. Mahima Maurya (RTI)	Irrelevant Information PROVIDED by PIO
Case Type	FIR No. 84/2025 (Cognizable Offense)	“Above NCR” (Non-Cognizable Report)
Case Subject	Cyber Fraud case involving ₹20,000 withdrawal.	No mention of Cyber Fraud or the financial loss.
Core Query	Progress on a case filed on March 25, 2025.	Report on a case that had a charge sheet filed on October 24, 2025.
Crucial Failure	Six detailed questions were asked (e.g., IO details, statistics, communications).	The PIO provided a generic response about a charge sheet in an unrelated matter.

The Conclusion: The PIO failed to cross-reference the RTI registration with the correct case file. The provided response is therefore a refusal to furnish the correct information related to FIR No. 84/2025.

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Grounds for Appeal: Negligence and Non-Compliance

The First Appellate Authority (FAA), Somen Verma (SSP Mirzapur), must assess this failure not as a simple mistake. It should be regarded as a severe lapse in the statutory duty of the PIO.

I. Fundamental Violation of Section 7(1)

• Refusal to Furnish: The core purpose of the RTI Act is to furnish information. When a PIO provides information related to an incorrect file, it is akin to refusing to provide the correct details. The PIO demonstrated a gross lack of application of mind. (Police Mishandling & Wrong Information)
• Irrelevance: The PIO’s action prevented the applicant from accessing the status of her own husband’s case. This constituted a fundamental violation of her right to information.

II. Relief Sought: Compliance and Accountability

The appeal clearly requests two specific outcomes:

1. Immediate Compliance: The FAA must act quickly. It is necessary to direct the PIO to comply by furnishing the complete and correct information. This applies to all six original queries related to FIR No. 84/2025 within a strict 7-day deadline. (Police Mishandling & Wrong Information)
2. Fixing Accountability: This is the most serious demand. The applicant requests the authorities to hold the PIO accountable under the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005.

The law allows for disciplinary action. The PIO may be subject to a penalty of up to ₹25,000. The Information Commissioner’s final decision determines this penalty. This occurs when there is an unreasonable denial or failure to furnish information. When the PIO makes such a fundamental error, it strongly merits an inquiry into their conduct.

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What Happens Next? (Police Mishandling & Wrong Information)

The appeal (Reg. No. SPMZR/A/2025/60055) has been received by the FAA, Somen Verma (SSP).

1. FAA Review: The FAA must dispose of the appeal within 30 days. They have 45 days if it is recorded in writing. The FAA will likely summon the PIO and the relevant police official from Vindhyachal Police Station to clarify the lapse.
2. Order: The FAA must pass an order directing the PIO to:
   • Review the original RTI application (SPMZR/R/2025/60300).
   • Provide the correct, relevant information concerning FIR No. 84/2025.
3. Accountability Inquiry: The FAA’s findings on the PIO’s negligence will be crucial. If the FAA determines the PIO failed without reasonable cause, the Information Commission may continue with penalties. This occurs upon subsequent appeal (Second Appeal).

Mrs. Maurya’s swift and detailed appeal focuses on the core failure of subject matter confusion. This focus gives her the best chance for a quick resolution. It also sets the stage for holding the concerned official accountable.

You’re absolutely right; including the official source link for RTI complaints is essential for completeness and accuracy.

Here are the contact details for the key officials involved. Here is the official link to file an RTI complaint or appeal with the Government of India.

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📞 Key Contact Details: RTI Appeal (SP Office, Mirzapur) (Police Mishandling & Wrong Information)

Role	Name	Designation	Mobile Number	Email Address
First Appellate Authority (FAA)	SOMEN VERMA	SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police), Mirzapur	Not provided (Use office/landline if needed)	spmzr-up[at]nic[dot]in
PIO / Nodal Officer (Original)	Manish Kumar Mishra	ASP OPERATION	7007941679	addlspopmzr[at]gmail[dot]com
Appellant (Your Details)	Mahima Maurya	Resident, Gorsar Sarpati	9198010433	mahimamauryagonasar[at]gmail[dot]com

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🔗 Official RTI Source Link (Police Mishandling & Wrong Information)

The link below is the Government of India’s official portal. You can file and manage RTI requests and First Appeals online for Central Ministries/Departments. If your matter relates to the State of Uttar Pradesh, the system may redirect you to a state-specific portal. This will occur if one is available. Otherwise, you will receive guidance to use that option.. However, this is the primary national source.

• Official RTI Portal Link (Source): https://rtionline.gov.in/

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⚠️ Important Notes (Police Mishandling & Wrong Information)

• Email Format: Remember to replace [at] with @ and [dot] with . when using the email addresses.
• FAA Mobile Number: The mobile number for the FAA (Somen Verma, SSP) was not explicitly provided in the public record. Use the official email address (spmzr-up[at]nic[dot]in) for formal communication regarding your appeal (Reg. No. SPMZR/A/2025/60055).