PRABHAKAR V. SINARI vs SHANKER ANANT VERLEKAR

The Supreme Court held that under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, no court can take cognizance of an offence against a public servant unless prior sanction is obtained if the act was committed in the discharge of official duty. The Court found that it was unclear whether the appellant, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, acted in his official capacity when he intervened in a land dispute. The appeal was dismissed, allowing the appellant to establish the need for sanction in further proceedings.