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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Purported sleazy videos case: Action on suspended DGP after dept inquiry, says Home Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Sunday said that the government will decide on further action against the now-suspended DGP K Ramachandra Rao based on recommendations following a departmental inquiry into a case concerning videos purportedly showing him behaving obscenely with women in his office.
The minister's comments followed reports that the special probe committee has ruled out Rao's claims that the clips were fake and AI-generated.
"After further departmental inquiry, whatever they recommend, the government will decide based on that. The department has to give a report to the government, and based on the recommendation made, we will take a decision," Parameshwara told reporters here in response to a question.
Since Rao claimed the circulating videos were fake AI creations, they were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), the minister said in response to a question.
"A team was formed in the department to find the truth. They have submitted a report to the department. The department will have to inform the government about the same, based on which further action will be taken," he added.
The state government had formed a team of four IPS officers, led by R Hitendra, Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order), to conduct a preliminary inquiry in the case.
The government in January suspended Rao, the 1993-batch IPS officer serving as the DGP, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE), after viral videos purportedly showing him acting in an obscene manner surfaced.
The videos purportedly show the 59-year-old hugging and kissing women while in office. He was wearing a police uniform in a few videos. Rao had, however, called the videos "fabricated" and vowed to take legal action.
There were even reports that the videos were shot in 2016-17 inside the office of the Inspector General of Police - Belagavi range.
