CHENNAI : Official claims by the City police about combating crime in Chennai notwithstanding, the top brass is concerned over reports of lower-level police officers and personnel being involved in grave crimes.

Allegations of corruption and favouritism levelled against the custodians of law not only include the lower ranks, but also some senior police officers. The top brass is now contemplating serious action, according to sources in the Commissionerate. In recent months, there have been reports of policemen being involved in grave crimes in the metropolis.

The city police's strength is about 17,500, and Police Commissioner Letika Saran is on record saying that crime was well under check and that the offences reported in the city had fallen compared with the corresponding previous year.

Impersonation

But some instances are serious enough to warrant concern. A policeman, Ramamurthi, attached to the Flower Bazaar police station, was arrested and remanded to judicial custody recently. The complaint against him was that he threatened a bullion merchant and forcibly took away Rs.100 from him. It is learnt that three men kidnapped a man carrying 4.81 kilos of gold from Coimbatore to Chennai. Posing as CBI officers, they took him near Vandalur and relieved him of the gold. In another instance in Tiruvanmiyur area, a police constable had alleged links with chain snatchers. It is said whenever any woman came alone to the beach, the constable informed his "accomplice" who carried out the robbery and fled from the scene. Though police registered a case and arrested the accused, the "true" link to the crime was not revealed.

Crime Branch corruption

Yet another wing in the city police which has come in for severe criticism for corruption and favouritism is the Central Crime Branch (CCB) wing. Though the mass transfer among the Inspectors of Police and Sub-Inspectors of Police and below in the CCB was attributed to `poor' performance according to an officer, a senior officer privately admitted that corruption was the reason. However, with the posting of a new Deputy Commissioner of Police recently, the CCB team is looking to make amends.

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