K'taka: Inspector, PSI suspended following arrest of constables selling drugs near CM's residence
Bengaluru top-cop issues memo to two DCPs for dereliction of duty
Bengaluru: Following the arrest of two police constables deployed for CM security over their involvement in drug peddling, the City Police Commissioner has also suspended two other officers including an inspector for dereliction of duty.
The city's top-cop Kamal Pant has also issued a show-cause memo to two DCPs in the matter.
RT Nagar Police Inspector Ashwadh Gowda and PSI Veerbhadra have been suspended from the duty pending enquiry.
Additionally, the Commissioner has also issued a memo to Bengaluru East DCP Srinath Joshi seeking a reply on deploying the accused constables at CM's residence without history-checking them before clearing for deployment. CM Security personnel's supervisor and VIP DCP Manjunath has also been served the memo seeking a reply for dereliction of duty.]
On Tuesday, the city police had arrested two constables deputed for the security of CM Bommai for peddling drugs near the CM’s official residence in the city. They were also reportedly extorting money from drug peddlers.
The arrested policemen have been identified as Shivakumar and Santosh. They were attached to the Koramangala Police Station and were deputed as the security officers at CM’s residence in RT Nagar.
“The policemen used Dunzo, a parcel service, to procure the drugs. They used to find a location near the chief minister’s house to conduct sales so nobody would suspect them,” Hindustan Times reported one of the police officials privy to the matter, as saying.
According to the reports, the matter came to light when the two cops got into a heated argument with the supplier. When the fight got louder, other policemen arrived and checked the two constables and found drugs on them.
The two constables later confessed to the crime. “The drug dealers working with the constables were identified as Amjad Khan and Akhil Raj. They have been taken into custody,” said police.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Impeached South Korean president to appear in court hearing to argue against his arrest
_vb_04.jpeg)
Seoul (AP): South Korea's impeached president will appear at a hearing in a Seoul court on Saturday to oppose a formal arrest over last month's imposition of martial law, his lawyers said.
Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been in detention since he was apprehended on Wednesday in a massive law enforcement operation at his residence, faces potential rebellion charges linked to his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, which set off the country's most serious political crisis since its democratization in the late 1980s.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and the military, requested the Seoul Western District Court to grant a warrant for Yoon's formal arrest.
Yoon is expected to argue that there's no need for him to be in custody during an investigation at a hearing set for 2 pm this afternoon. The judge is anticipated to make a decision by late Saturday or early Sunday.
After meeting Yoon at the detention center, Yoon Kab-keun, one of the president's lawyers, said in a text message that Yoon had his legal team's advice to appear personally before the judge. The president plans to argue that his decree was a legitimate exercise of his powers and that accusations of rebellion would not hold up before a criminal court or the Constitutional Court, which is reviewing whether to formally remove him from office or reinstate him, his lawyer said.
Hundreds of supporters rallied overnight at the court, calling for Yoon's release.
If Yoon is arrested, investigators can extend his detention to 20 days, during which they will transfer the case to public prosecutors for indictment. If the court rejects the investigators' request, Yoon will be released and return to his residence.
Nine people, including Yoon's defense minister, police chief, and several top military commanders, have already been arrested and indicted for their roles in the enforcement of martial law.
The crisis began when Yoon, in an attempt to break through legislative gridlock, imposed military rule and sent troops to the National Assembly and election offices. The standoff lasted only hours after lawmakers who managed to get through a blockade voted to lift the measure. The opposition-dominated assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14.
If Yoon is formally arrested, it could mark the beginning of an extended period in custody for him, lasting months or more.
If prosecutors indict Yoon on rebellion and abuse of power charges, which are the allegations now being examined by investigators, they could keep him in custody for up to six months before trial.
Under South Korean law, orchestrating a rebellion is punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Yoon's lawyers have argued that there is no need to detain him during the investigation, saying he doesn't pose a threat to flee or destroy evidence.
Investigators respond that Yoon ignored several requests to appear for questioning, and that the presidential security service blocked an attempt to detain him on Jan. 3. His defiance has raised concerns about whether he would comply with criminal court proceedings if he's not under arrest.
