Bar to interfere with the functioning of the State Police Complaints Authority or the District Police Complaints Authority

(1) Whoever influences or interferes with the functioning of the State Police Complaints Authority or the District Police Complaints Authority, except in the course of lawful duty, shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to Rs. 25,000 or with both: Provided that any threat, coercion or inducement offered to any person to make a false, vexatious or malicious complaint, or to any witness or victim of police misconduct with the intention of misleading proceedings, shall be deemed to be interference with the functioning of the State Police Complaints Authority or the District Police Complaints Authority, as the case may be. (2) The State Police Complaints Authority may, if it comes to the conclusion that a complaint of police misconduct is intentionally false or is vexatious or malafide, may impose a fine not exceeding Rs. 25,000: Provided that no such orders shall be made without affording the affected party a reasonable opportunity of being heard.