> My guess is they're not happy about it either but if the pressure comes from high up enough they have to relent. One part of it may be that they think that even if they're doing the wrong thing legally they're doing it out of some moral obligation to stick together or to protect the old boys network.
Also, community (tribe, caste, same language) in India is super important. So if the higher up is from the same community, there is a higher likelihood that the cop will accede to his request. Another issue is that it is easy for a cop/public official who refuses demands from politicians (or any one important really) to get "transferred". This means that the person gets uprooted from wherever they were leaving and gets moved to a random part of the state or country. As you might imagine, not many people prefer doing this.
> What threat would cause a particular officer to do something against their oath is beyond my imagination. It just should not happen.
For a police officer who does not comply to pressure from politicians and the goons, following things can happen in the order of severity.
1. Transfer order to Police Training center
2. Transfer order to Naxalite area (Naxalites are terrorists who rule certain part of India where the government law is no obeyed).
3. Suspension order.
4. The local politician may enter the police station and slap the police. (Have seen this happening).
5. The local politician may strip the police officer in front of general public and his subordinates.
6. The police officer may come under a running truck.
The real problem with police system in India is that it is still governed by the same laws that were formed by the British. British rulers used the police force mostly to control the natives by use of force. Top level politicians were given too much control over police force de facto and de jure. The Indian government did not bother to change the police system because they found it too convenient.
Indian police has very limited training. Only some officers are allowed to have handguns. Since India does not manufacture Guns neither imports them the guns given to these officers are the ones that were caught during smuggling. These guns don't work. During the 26/11 Islamic terror attack on mumbai many officers died only because they guns jammed and failed to fire.
Training of police is centralized. New recruits are passed through some basic training which involves jumping around, marching and introduction to laws. Thats all. After the join their job there is no training for them what so ever.
Why the hell do people join Police then ?
Most of the people who join Police force buy these job by paying the local politicians. A job of constable (lowest position) costs around $10,000. After that you have to pay anywhere between $10000 - $50,000 to get a transfer to a desired area. Price will be higher if opportunities to take bribes in that area is higher. The police then jsut wants to augment their salary by expecting bribes.
Every time you want to renew your passport you have to visit your local police station. Even if you have not criminal record the police takes anywhere between $10 - $50 to give you that certificate.
Powerful people use Police like servants of their house or in some cases like slaves.
The threats are many. Getting transferred, having false civil/criminal cases foisted against themselves, death threats, violence from goons and henchmen, etc.
Recently, there was the case of Ashok Khemka who spoke out against nepotism and such. He was relieved of his responsibilities (as a Director General/Inspector General in the Revenue Registry) immediately and seconded as a Managing Director elsewhere (a fairly low level position compared to his experience and seniority). There is also a wiki page about him. An honest and upright officer. His qualifications are also excellent (PhD in CS, MBA + IAS).
> What threat would cause a particular officer to do something against their oath is beyond my imagination.
Simple threats work. Being transferred to a hellhole with little to no electricity, poor roads, far from where your family lives; or worse, transferred to a naxalite or some other unstable region.
Also, community (tribe, caste, same language) in India is super important. So if the higher up is from the same community, there is a higher likelihood that the cop will accede to his request. Another issue is that it is easy for a cop/public official who refuses demands from politicians (or any one important really) to get "transferred". This means that the person gets uprooted from wherever they were leaving and gets moved to a random part of the state or country. As you might imagine, not many people prefer doing this.