VISAKHAPATNAM: A four-member team of Visakhapatnam police, who have been deployed at Jodhpur in Rajasthan as a part of the investigation in a PM Palem dacoity case, in which a businessman from Mangalagiri was looted of 3 kg gold on August 29, were arrested by Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jodhpur for demanding and accepting a bribe from the accused persons. The Vizag policemen have reportedly demanded bribe for not arresting and for deleting the name of one of the culprits in the case and also not to seize his vehicle.
The arrested police officers have been identified as inspector of Crime Wing (North Division) RVRK Choudhari, sub-inspector of Parawada Sk Sharif, sub-inspector of MR Peta Gopal Rao and constable of One Town police station S Hari Prasad. According to sources, the team which went to investigate the dacoity case, have caught one Shravan Soni and another Hanuman Prajapat alias Ram Nivas a couple of days ago. However, the police had reportedly asked a bribe of `1.5 lakh from Ram Nivas to delete his name and not to seize his vehicle.
After the complainant approached ACB officials, they trapped the Vizag police when they were accepting `80,000 bribe at Shiva Shakthi restaurant at Borananda area of Jodhpur. However, it was learnt that the Inspector had spoken to the commissioner of police T Yoganand over the phone and pleaded their innocence. He also claimed that they were framed, and they were only recovering the stolen property when they were caught by the ACB officials.
It was also learnt that the IG of Rajasthan ACB too had spoken to the commissioner. Police sources said that the Vizag CP had deputed DCP (Crimes) Shemushi Bajpai to do an independent inquiry. It may be recalled on August 29 this year, a trader from the city N Rakesh, with the help of four persons, made good with 3 kg of gold worth around `80 lakh belonging to a fellow businessman from Guntur district by threatening him at gunpoint at PM Palem.