4 MP cops suspended for taking Rs 20 lakh ‘hush money’ after recovery of cash from car
Bhopal (PTI): Four Madhya Pradesh police personnel have been suspended for allegedly accepting Rs 20 lakh as "hush money" from a Gujarat-based businessman after discovering Rs 1 crore in his car, police said on Sunday.
According to the police, the incident occurred on March 19 in the Ruthiyai outpost area under the Dharnaavda police station in Guna district.
A Gujarat-registered SUV was stopped for checking, and a search led to the recovery of Rs 1 crore in cash.
Instead of initiating legal action, the policemen allegedly struck a deal with the businessman, releasing the vehicle after taking Rs 20 lakh and returning Rs 80 lakh without any paperwork or informing the Income Tax department.
Talking to PTI, Gwalior Zone Inspector General of Police Arvind Saxena said, "The incident was brought to my knowledge on Saturday. I immediately sent my deputy inspector general (DIG), and after the initial inquiry, four police personnel were suspended as they did not stick to the rules while dealing with the case."
IPS officer Ayush Jakhar from Shivpuri district will conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident, he said.
The official said that Dharnaavda station house officer Prabhat Katare, Ruthiyai outpost in-charge assistant sub-inspector Sajid Hussain, head constable Devendra Singh Sikarwar and constable Sundar Raman have been suspended.
"The personnel should have seized the cash after filming it and informed the I-T department, as the amount was higher than Rs 10 lakh. For cash under Rs 10 lakh, the police under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita are empowered to take action and detain the money carrier. The competent court decides the matter," he added.
The issue took a turn after a call from Gujarat, following which Rs 20 lakh was later returned to the businessman.
The matter came to light after discussions about the alleged transaction went viral on social media, prompting senior police officers of Madhya Pradesh to take cognisance.
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Abhishek sets 60,000 victory margin target for Mamata, warns cadres against complacency
Kolkata (PTI): The TMC on Sunday held an organisational meeting in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s home turf Bhabanipur, where party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee set an ambitious target of ensuring her victory by more than 60,000 votes in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections.
The meeting assumes significance as Bhabanipur, long regarded as Mamata Banerjee’s political backyard, is expected to witness a high-profile contest in the upcoming election with the BJP fielding Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari against her.
Addressing a closed-door workers’ conference at Ahindra Mancha in Chetla, along with Mamata Banerjee, her nephew Abhishek told booth-level leaders and party functionaries that Bhabanipur must emerge as the top-performing constituency in Kolkata, according to TMC sources.
“Bhabanipur must come first in Kolkata. Mamata Banerjee has to win by more than 60,000 votes,” he said, warning party cadres not to be complacent despite the constituency’s reputation as a TMC stronghold.
The meeting, attended by local councillors, booth workers and organisational leaders, was part of the party’s effort to strengthen its booth-level machinery in the constituency ahead of the assembly polls.
Among those present were state TMC president Subrata Bakshi, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, south Kolkata district president Debasish Kumar and councillors from the area.
Abhishek, considered number 2 in the TMC hierarchy, reminded party workers that Bhabanipur has 287 polling booths and asked them to improve on the party’s earlier performance.
“When Mamata Banerjee contested here earlier, we won in 231 booths. This time we must cross that figure and ensure victory in at least 232 booths,” he said.
Calling on booth presidents to function as “vigilant guardians” of their respective polling areas, the TMC MP said internal differences within local committees should not affect the organisational effort.
“You may like some people in your booth committees and dislike others. But remember that Mamata Banerjee herself is fighting here. That makes our responsibility much greater,” he said.
Mamata Banerjee, who also addressed the meeting, raised concerns over recent administrative changes during the poll process and accused the Centre of interfering in the state’s functioning.
“In the last three days, 50 officers have been removed. If anything happens, Narendra Modi and Vanish Kumar will have to take responsibility,” she told workers.
The TMC supremo also referred to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and said the party would extend legal assistance to voters who face problems.
“A supplementary list will be published tomorrow. If anyone’s name is deleted or they face difficulties, we will provide legal help,” she said.
According to party sources, the revision exercise has reportedly led to the deletion of around 47,000 names from the Bhabanipur electoral rolls, a development the TMC leadership is closely monitoring.
The constituency occupies a special place in Bengal politics. Mamata Banerjee had first represented Bhabanipur in the assembly before returning to the seat in 2011 through a bypoll after becoming chief minister.
In 2021, she again contested a by-election from Bhabanipur to retain the chief minister’s post after losing the high-stakes battle in Nandigram to Adhikari.
Though the seat has largely remained a TMC bastion, recent electoral trends have made the contest more closely watched. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, TMC candidate Mala Roy secured a lead of around 6,500 votes in the Bhabanipur segment, while the BJP gained ground in several municipal wards.
Against this backdrop, party leaders said Sunday’s meeting was aimed at ensuring there is “no room for complacency” in the constituency and that the organisational network remains fully mobilised for the upcoming electoral battle.
