Date:18/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/18/stories/2008121856410400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Police personnel held for demanding bribe

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: An Inspector of Police who allegedly demanded and took Rs. 2 lakh as bribe from an accused was arrested by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption police here on Wednesday.

According to a DVAC source, S. Abinesha Babu (52) of Anna Nagar and three others were accused of fraudulently purchasing a property on the Old Mahabalipuram Road by a Surya Narayana, a Hyderabad-based businessman. Even as the investigation was in progress, the Central Crime Branch (Land Grabbing Wing) Inspector, T.C Ruskin (39), demanded a bribe of Rs. 20 lakh to settle the case in favour of the accused.

He even threatened to detain Abibesha Babu under the Goondas Act if the money was not paid.

Head Constable S. Mohan (54), also connived with the Inspector and threatened the accused to pay the bribe money failing which they would have to face unpleasant consequences.

While negotiating the quantum of the bribe money, Ruskin asked Abinesha Babu to immediately pay Rs. 2 lakh as first instalment, the sources said.

Based on a specific complaint, DVAC police registered a case. A special team led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, K. Ponnuchamy, and Inspector, Uchapatti Paramasamy, laid a trap at the CCB office in Thousand Lights on Wednesday. Soon after Ruskin asked Abinesha Babu to hand over Rs. 2 lakh to Mohan, the team arrested both in the presence of official witnesses. They were produced in a city court and remanded to judicial custody.

In another case, the DVAC police arrested the Poonamalee Inspector, G. Chandrasekar (44), after he allegedly took a bribe of Rs. 10,000 from an accused.

Police said D. Suresh Kumar (30) of Parivakkam was arrested on charges of assaulting a woman. After release on bail, he met Chandrasekar to seek his help in settling the case amicably. However, the Inspector threatened to book him under an attempt to murder case and demanded Rs. 25,000 to drop action.

On a complaint from Suresh Kumar, the DVAC police laid a trap and arrested Chandrasekar who was also produced in a court and remanded to judicial custody, the sources added.