Mumbai Crime: Deputy SP, constable held for demanding Rs 2 crore bribe from trader

Photo for representational purpose

Mumbai Unit of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a deputy superintendent and a constable for allegedly demanding bribe of Rs 2 crore and accepting Rs 10 lakh as the first instalment from a 36-year-old trader.

The deputy SP, Rajendra Pal, had called the complainant and threatened him of action in relation with his friend's accidental death. The cop claimed he has an audio clip of the calls between the complainant and the deceased's wife which can land him in trouble.

The constable, Ganesh Chavhan, was caught accepting Rs 10 lakh from the complainant on Friday night.

A 35-year-old trader died in a road accident at Selu, Parbhani on May 2 this year. The trader, who was returning home, was knocked down by a speeding truck. An offence was registered against the driver of the truck in the Selu Police station on May 3. After a couple of months, an audio clip had gone viral in which the wife of the deceased was talking with the complainant, also a trader and a friend of the deceased.

On July 9, Pal, the deputy SP of Selu region called the complainant to his office. "Pal told the trader that he has an audio clip in which he is talking to the wife of the deceased. The deputy SP also threatened him that this audio clip can land him in trouble" said an officer from ACB, Mumbai.

The cop then asked the trader to pay a bribe of Rs 2 crore.

Not willing to pay, the trader registered a complaint at ACB Headquarters, Mumbai. The Mumbai Unit of ACB started working on the complaint and verification of the demand was done on July 23 at Selu by officials.

"Along with the complainant, an ACB official confirmed the demand of Rs 2 crore by the deputy SP and after bargaining the final amount of bribe was settled on 1.5 crore rupees. The first instalment of Rs 10 lakh was accepted by constable Ganesh Chavhan at the complainant's residence, which is just next to the deputy SP's office" said another officer from ACB.

Chavhan was caught red-handed while accepting the money while a team rushed to Pal's office and nabbed him too. An offence under Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 was registered against the accused at Selu Police station. Pal was previously posted at Wadala GRP as senior police inspector.