In Akela’s case, a series of exposes on corruption in the RPF had rubbed far too many people the wrong way. He is thankful to the global community of journalists that backed him up. But Akela had the power of the press behind him. What happens to the ordinary citizen, whose employer may not be so sympathetic if a criminal case is registered against him?

Every day, our High Court hears hundreds of criminal writ petitions that allege malfeasance on part of police, all filed by citizens that ought never to have suffered from police excesses. Many present instances of colourable exercise of power where under the guise of doing a thing they are lawfully meant to do, police abuse discretion to settle scores or line their own pockets. India has a long way to go before it approaches the high regard the fourth estate is held in countries we love to emulate. For now, all we can be thankful for is that our democratic values have mitigated the kind of clampdowns common on the other side of our borders.u00a0