Police opposes plea of US man for quashing FIR

Police Thursday opposed in the Delhi High Court a plea of a US police official, arrested at the IGI airport last month after three live cartridges were recovered from his baggage, to quash the FIR registered against him.

Opposing Manuel R. Encarnacion's plea, police told Justice Sunil Gaur that the investigation into the case had not been completed.

"The present case is still at the stage of investigation and hence the prayer for quashing of FIR is opposed," police said in the status report filed in the court.

The court now fixed the matter for July 1.

Now after the court posted the matter for July 1, Encarnacion, who was booked under the Arms Act, will not be able to leave India as his passport was taken by authorities.

The Delhi Police March 11 detained Encarnacion, a New York Police Department officer, after three live cartridges of 9 mm were detected in his baggage.

An FIR was registered against Encarnacion under the Arms Act for illegally bringing the ammunition into India. He was produced before a local court the same day, where he was granted bail.

In his plea for quashing the FIR, Encarnacion has said that he was visiting India with valid permit and for bonafide reason of visiting his wife. Encarnacion, 49, said it was perfectly lawful to carry ammunition in the US.

He said the bullets were left in the jacket inadvertently and he had no knowledge that they were there. He pleaded the the court to also consider that he had no criminal antecedents.