KOCHI: Three city policemen, including a CI, were suspended on Friday over allegations of accepting bribe to settle a sexual assault case and of blackmailing a Tamil Nadu-based money lender.
State Police Chief Loknath Behera suspended Ernakulam North CI T B Vijayan, civil police officer Anil and head constable Biju based on a report submitted by the State Special Branch to the Home Department.
The report stated the molestation incident took place around two months back.
The owner of a supermarket and others allegedly outraged the modesty of a 26-year-old woman from Muvattupuzha in his flat at Alinchuvadu, where she was called on the pretext of an interview. The matter came to light after the victim lodged a complaint with the Palarivattom police station.
“However, the policemen settled the case between the victim and the accused after the latter handed over `7lakh. Of the amount, `5 lakh was given to the victim, while the cops and advocates shared the remaining `2 lakh,” said a police officer.
In another case, the CI and his team allegedly threatened Chellamuthu, a Tamil Nadu-based money lender and extorted `1 lakh for excluding him from a case under Operation Kubera, a drive against illegal money lenders. Police officers said the cops had been under scanner for the last couple of months.
A DySP has been appointed to probe the allegations.