Superintendent of police (SP) Dheeraj Kumar is yet to take charge at his new place of posting, Sheikhpura, as he faces the threat of arrest.

A Muzaffarpur court on Wednesday declared him an absconder in a case of assault and torture. Dheeraj, posted as SP in the vigilance department, was transferred to Sheikhpura on Thursday.

The state police headquarters even issued the movement order the same day, asking the police officer concerned to take up the new assignment with immediate effect. But Dheeraj has not been able to assume charge as SP of Sheikhpura even two days after the transfer order was issued.

A source in the police headquarters said Dheeraj would join the new place of his posting only after obtaining bail from the court concerned.

A court headed by judicial magistrate (first class) Divya Vashishtha on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against SP Dheeraj in a case lodged by a telephone kiosk owner of Muzaffarpur Sushil Kumar Singh, alleging that he was brutally assaulted and tortured in the police lock-up after he had failed to cough up Rs 2,000 to Dheeraj on July 11, 1995.

Dheeraj was then posted as deputy superintendent of police (town) at Muzaffarpur. The complainant had told the court that Dheeraj's subordinate Devendra Singh had visited his telephone kiosk and demanded Rs 2,000 for organising a party at then DSP's residence. Singh was then serving as the station house officer (SHO) of Kazimohammadpur police station in Muzaffarpur town.

The complainant Sushil said the court declared both police officers - then DSP and SHO - fugitive on Wednesday after they repeatedly ignored the court directive to appear in the case. Even property attachment orders were issued against the two cops, who were holding key positions and assigned to enforce law.

SP Dheeraj said he had deposed before the court in February last year. 'I did not receive any information about the arrest warrant or order of attachment of property issued from the court. Had I got the information, I would have obeyed the court directive,' he said.

Dheeraj said he had already submitted relevant papers to the court to obtain bail in the case. 'The court took cognisance in the case under Section 323 of the Indian Penal Code. It was a complaint case filed in the local court way back in 1995,' he added.

If found guilty under Section 323 of IPC, the convict is liable to serve a jail term of one year or fine up to Rs 1,000 or both. Outgoing Sheikhpura SP Navin Chandra Jha said he was still waiting for his successor to assume charge. 'I am in the dark the about the date when my successor Dheeraj will officially take charge,' he spoke over phone on Sunday.