Overview
- Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission member Anita Gupta visited Kanpur’s Barra police station on November 22 while following up on a woman’s complaint about alleged pressure to compromise in a family-dispute case.
- Kanpur Police sent Gupta a letter asserting that commission members lack authority for direct station inspections and warning that such visits disrupt emergency duties and public service.
- A line telling Gupta to ‘stay within limits’ drew criticism, and Commissioner of Police Raghubir Lal said the letter did not reflect expected decorum as he ordered a review of language used in official correspondence and sought an explanation from subordinates.
- Joint CP (Crime) V. K. Singh said the communication was a letter rather than an official notice and that he is not authorised to issue notices to commission members.
- Gupta called the wording derogatory and escalated the matter to commission chairperson Babita Singh Chauhan, who has taken cognisance and sought details as officials indicate the issue could be raised with the state government.