BENGALURU: Police have launched a criminal investigation into an apartment association in the city, accusing it of operating an illegal “parallel justice system” by imposing fines for serious offences and suppressing criminal complaints.
Kumbalgodu police have registered a suo motu case against the Provident Sunworth Apartment Association and Tyko Security Pvt Ltd after preliminary findings revealed that the association allegedly collected over ₹3.3 lakh as “penalties” between July and November from residents caught with drugs or accused of late-night parties inside their flats.
The probe follows the recent detention of four student residents who were found in possession of ganja outside the apartment complex at Doddabele, off Mysuru Road, after which police issued a notice to the association. The association has so far not issued any statement on the allegations.
According to senior police officials, the investigation was triggered by an anonymous complaint from a resident alleging that the association had framed its own bylaws to internally “investigate” and “settle” criminal offences. A preliminary inquiry substantiated the claims, leading to the registration of a case on Tuesday.
Investigators allege that, in collusion with the private security agency, the association conducted unauthorised inquiries into offences including drug possession, theft, sexual harassment and sexual assault. Fines ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 were allegedly imposed, after which the accused were either allowed to continue staying in the complex or asked to vacate quietly, without any police complaint being filed.
“This amounts to deliberate suppression of cognisable offences,” a senior police officer said. “By collecting fines and not reporting crimes, the association denied justice to victims and enabled accused persons to evade legal action.”
Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Anitha B Haddannavar confirmed that many residents of the complex are students from nearby colleges, most of them tenants. “Our verification shows that the association illegally collected penalties, particularly from students, for alleged misconduct. Serious offences cannot be settled internally under any circumstances,” she said.
Police said offences allegedly covered up include narcotics possession, sexual harassment of domestic workers and theft. Investigators also claim that fines were collected from the association’s basement office, both in cash and through online transfers.
While the association has existed since 2003 with legitimate bylaws to deal with minor issues such as parking violations or damage to common property, police said these rules were unlawfully extended in recent months to criminal matters. “Apartment associations have no authority to investigate or penalise criminal offences. Such incidents must be reported immediately,” Haddannavar said.
Investigators also found that several residents who paid fines were allegedly forced to vacate, complicating efforts to trace both victims and accused. Police are now trying to identify all those who have paid penalties since 2023.
The case has been registered under Sections 211, 238 and 239 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, dealing with failure to report offences, disappearance of evidence and intentional omission of information, along with relevant provisions of the NDPS Act.
