Date:20/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122055560600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Police inspector arrested and remanded for robbery

Staff Reporter

Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Rural Police on Friday arrested and remanded Dhanapal, Inspector of Police of Koilpalayam Police station on charges of intimidating and robbing a real estate broker of Rs 25 lakhs at Koilpalayam on Thursday. Vasavan (48), a real estate broker from Chennai was approached by Sathyaraj, a real estate broker from Sathyamangalam who had told Vasavan that four acres of land worth Rs 1.3 crore near Mettuppalayam was available for sale at Rs 70 lakhs.

Vasavan came to Coimbatore with Rs 25 lakhs. Sathyaraj phoned Vasavan and asked him to come with the cash to Koilpalayam and meet him at a hotel there.

As soon as Vasavan came to Kolipalayam with his driver and another broker Ramachandran, the Inspector, Dhanapal also came there in a call taxi.

The inspector send away Sathyaraj and told Vasavan and others to come to the police station for an inquiry since they possessed so much of cash. Inspector is said to have retained the suitcase containing cash.

Vasavan was asked to sign on a blank white paper failing which, the inspector said, a case will be foisted on him.

Later Vasan preferred a complaint with the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption police who in turn informed Pramod Kumar, Inspector-General of Police, West Zone.

On directions from the IG, P. Sivanandi, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police of the Coimbatore Range initiated an inquiry led by K. Shanmugavel, Superintendent of Police (in-charge).

The police raided the premises where Dhanapal was staying and recovered Rs 4.90 lakhs. Dhanapal confessed to robbing Rs 25 lakhs from Vasavan.

Police Inspector Dhanapal was arrested under section 392 of Indian Penal Code (robbery) and placed under suspension. He was produced before the magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigations are on to recover the remaining cash.