Bhatkal PSI suspended amid controversy over fine collection in private account
Bhatkal: The controversy surrounding Bhatkal PSI Yellappa Madara has deepened following recent clarifications provided by District Superintendent of Police (SP) M Narayan. The issue first emerged after a report on the local Kannada web portal, Kannada Vani, alleged that PSI Yellappa had been collecting traffic violation fines through QR code payments or in cash, with the funds reportedly being transferred to the account of a gold trader, Vinayak Maruti Shet.
According to SP Narayan, the incident in question occurred when Udaya Naik, a motorist fined for a traffic violation, did not have sufficient cash to pay the penalty. Naik allegedly paid the fine using a UPI app to Vinayak Maruti Shet, a gold merchant who was reportedly acquainted with both Naik and PSI Yellappa. The SP clarified that the money was later transferred to PSI Yellappa’s account.
However, this explanation has raised further questions. Kannada Vani, the web portal that initially reported the incident, highlighted discrepancies in the SP's account. The portal pointed out that the gold trader was not physically present at the scene, as claimed, casting doubt on the validity of the SP's clarification. Furthermore, concerns were raised about the non-use of the body camera provided to PSI Yellappa during the incident, which has fueled suspicions about transparency and adherence to police protocols.
The portal also questioned the SP's statement, suggesting that the gold trader's mobile signal should have been tracked to confirm his location during the transaction. Additionally, there are growing concerns about whether other motorists were similarly instructed to deposit fines into the same private account.
In response to the escalating controversy and public outcry, the Uttara Kannada District Police have suspended PSI Yellappa Madara from duty, pending a departmental inquiry. This suspension follows an investigation that revealed PSI Yellappa had violated departmental rules by collecting fines and depositing the money into a private account before withdrawing the cash. The District Police Superintendent issued a statement confirming the suspension and the ongoing inquiry into the matter.
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