Date:06/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/06/stories/2008040652040300.htm

New Delhi

98 Delhi Traffic Police personnel suspended

Staff Reporter

Caught on camera taking bribes from Blueline bus operators

A Vigilance Branch probe into the sting operation has established their identity
‘A regular departmental inquiry has now been ordered against them’

NEW DELHI: Ninety-eight Delhi Traffic Police personnel, who were filmed allegedly taking bribes from Blueline bus operators in 2007, have been suspended after a Vigilance Branch probe into the sting operation established their identity. Besides, 10 traffic inspectors are facing departmental inquiry in this connection.

Those suspended include 11 sub-inspectors, 11 assistant sub-inspectors, 10 head constables and 66 constables. “These personnel were suspended on Friday after a preliminary inquiry into the sting operation tapes by the Vigilance Branch established their identity. A regular departmental inquiry has now been ordered against them,” said Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat on Saturday.

The “sting operation” was conducted by Chetan Prakash Sharma, a property dealer, at 30 different points in the Capital and over 100 traffic police personnel were caught on camera allegedly accepting bribes from Blueline bus operators as part of the widespread racket.

“The operation was conducted in the months of October, November and December last year with the help of some Blueline operators who were being harassed by the traffic police. The visuals were mainly recorded at Janakpuri, Dabri, Dwarka, Dhaula Kuan, South Extension, Mool Chand and Andrews Ganj,” said Chetan Prakash Sharma.

The matter was brought to the notice of the Delhi High Court though a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in January and copies of the tapes were forwarded to the Union Home Ministry, the Delhi Police Commissioner and the Central Vigilance Commission to verify their authenticity and take proper action. The Court, however, stopped short of issuing any notice and disposed of the petition by acceding to the request of Mr. Sharma, the petitioner, to deposit the original video cassettes with the High Court registry for safekeeping.

Reacting to the action against the police personnel, Mr. Sharma said on Saturday: “It is satisfying to see that the accused have been punished, but the action is nothing more than eyewash to shield the senior police officers at the cost of the constabulary. The lower rank officers merely obey their seniors in collecting bribe from the public. The menace can be eradicated if the senior officers are also punished.” Mr. Sharma had in the past four years conducted three more sting operations showing the police accepting bribes from bootleggers. These operations had also led to suspension of nearly 50 policemen.