The Hindu : Front Page : SP arrested on graft charge

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Friday, Mar 14, 2008
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SP arrested on graft charge

Staff Reporter

Srikantappa

BANGALORE: The Lokayukta police on Thursday arrested a Superintendent of Police for allegedly accepting bribe from a businessman in Chamarajanagar.

Additional Director-General of Police (Lokayukta) R.K. Datta told presspersons here that Lokayukta officers arrested Chamarajanagar District Superintendent of Police Srikantappa for allegedly accepting Rs. 50,000 from S.M. Farooq for closing a case registered against him and allowing him to continue with sand mining. Srikantappa’s associate, Subbanna, who allegedly acted as the middleman, has also been arrested.

Mr. Datta said there were several complaints of harassment and demands for bribe against Srikantappa. One such complaint was filed by Mr. Farooq. “As the complaint was against a senior officer, we took every precaution,” Mr. Datta said. A team, led by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Lokayukta) K.S.R. Charan Reddy, was sent from Bangalore to Chamarajanagar on Wednesday. The Lokayukta police went to Srikantappa’s house and surveyed the exit points. On Thursday, Mr. Farooq sent the money through his manager Akbar, who went to Srikantappa’s house with Subbanna, who allegedly struck the deal between the businessman and Srikantappa. Subbanna took the money to the Superintendent of Police while Akbar waited in another room. When Subbanna and Akbar came out of the house, the Lokayukta police team entered the house and frisked Srikantappa. “He had hidden the cash between his shirt and vest. He has been booked for demanding and accepting bribe,” Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde said. The cash has been seized. Mr. Farooq got embroiled in the affair as he was being harassed for bribes by a forester at a check-post to allow transportation of sand. Mr. Farooq then filed a complaint with the Chamarajanagar (East) police. The forester also filed a complaint against Mr. Farooq accusing him of obstructing him while carrying out his official duty. The investigating officer did not find any substance in the forester’s complaint and wanted to close the case. However, Srikantappa sent a message to the investigating officer, through a sub-inspector, asking him not to close the case until further orders from him, the Lokayuta said.

Srikantappa approached the businessman through Subbanna seeking Rs. 25,000 to get the case closed and an additional Rs. 25,000 to let Mr. Farooq continue with his business. Subsequently, the businessman filed a complaint with the Lokayukta, Mr. Hegde said.

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