India, June 3 -- Coming down on alleged abuse of power by police officers , the Supreme Court has cancelled the anticipatory bail granted to three Mumbai Central Government Railway Police (GRP) officers accused of trying to extort money from a Rajasthan jeweller and his family at Mumbai Central Railway Station last year.

Observing that citizens often have little choice but to submit to unlawful demands by those in uniform, the apex court said, "When law enforcers turn extortionists, the citizen looks askance and is left in a dilemma. To confront, is to invite instant retaliation and the option is only to succumb meekly to the uniformed authority, even when there is patent abuse."

The May 27 order was passed by a bench of Justices Sanjay...