The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `Police official got Rs. 2.5 lakhs to release stamp case accused'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 01, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Police official got Rs. 2.5 lakhs to release stamp case accused'

By K.T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI, AUG. 31. In another major disclosure, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today told a city court that Rs. 2.5 lakhs had been paid to a Deputy Superintendent of Police (since suspended) for the release of a person who was arrested in connection with a case of ``fake stamp paper scam.''

Opposing the bail plea by the DSP, S. Sankar, who was arrested by the CBI, the agency's public prosecutor (PP), Jacob Daniel, said the information on the amount given to the police official was disclosed to investigators by a co-accused, R. Sadhu, a Life Insurance Corporation officer. Mr. Sankar was an inspector in the Crime Branch-CID and he was given the money for the release of Siara Banu, said the PP.

`Facts suppressed'

When he was inspector, Mr. Sankar prepared the draft complaint for registering a case in connection with ``fake stamp papers'' in 2002. He fabricated documents to register the case and also suppressed facts. Though several documents, which clearly revealed where fake stamp papers were stored, were seized by raiding policemen, no action was taken. Mr. Sankar was doing investigation without collecting incriminating documents or arresting the accused.

Mr. Daniel said the case was now in a crucial stage. Several clues and information were received and they had to be converted into legally admissible evidence. Hence, Mr. Sankar should not be enlarged on bail.

Earlier, Mr. Sankar's counsel, Walter Solomon, said it was false that an amount was given to the DSP for releasing an accused. It was a statement made without any material evidence. In fact, Siara Banu was released on mandatory bail. Also, the confession of a co-accused (Mr. Sadhu) was not admissible evidence.

`Not connected'

Mr. Solomon explained that Mr. Sankar was not at all connected with the release of one Balaji (the same day he was arrested in January 2002). Soon after a city doctor, Nizamuddin, who was only selling fake stamp papers, was arrested, Mr. Sankar informed the Karnataka police, who later arrived here and interrogated him. Nizamuddin did not know the places where fake stamp papers were being stored.

Counsel refuted the allegation that the DSP did not investigate properly. During investigation, though the places of storage were known, no stamp paper was found there. It was found during investigation that one Wahid (since arrested) was impersonating the city doctor and was entering into agreements with landlords for storing bogus stamp papers. Counsel said Mr. Sankar had taken steps to curb the fake stamp paper menace.

Orders today

The Additional CMM, D. Arulraj, will pass orders on the petition tomorrow.

CBI sources told The Hindu that two persons had made statements to a magistrate at Egmore here a few days ago in connection with the scam. Efforts were being made by the agency to file the charge sheet before September-end.

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