India, Jan. 15 -- HT Correspondent

letters@htlive.com

PRAYAGRAJ The Allahabad high court has directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to mandatorily initiate prosecution against individuals who lodge false or malicious FIRs.

Justice Praveen Kumar Giri passed the order while disposing of a petition filed by one Umme Farva of Aligarh.

The court held that if an investigation reveals an FIR was based on false information, the investigating officer (IO) is "statutorily obligated" to file a formal complaint against the informant.

The court also warned that failure to initiate such action would make the police officers concerned liable for prosecution under Section 199(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with public servants disob...