VELLORE: Two police personnel of the Natrampalli Crime Wing were arrested on Wednesday for demanding and taking bribe from Jarthankollai panchayat president. They were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Vellore, which sent them to Vellore Central Prison for Men.
Inspector Kamaraj and sub-inspector Sekar had picked local body chief Rajasekar (39) for inquiry in connection with a dacoity case and demanded Rs 50 lakh from him for not implicating him in the case.
It all began on October 3 when a gang of seven intercepted a van carrying spare parts of a bike company worth Rs 5.70 lakh near Velakalnatham. The gang assaulted the driver and drove away with the vehicle. Kamaraj and his team arrested seven persons in connection with the case. Based on their statement, the police picked Rajasekar on November 16 for his alleged involvement in the case.
Kamaraj and Sekar demanded Rs 50 lakh bribe to let him go. They also received Rs 12 lakh between November 16 and 19 from Rajasekar, when he was in police custody. The police personnel in the investigation team also received Rs 50,000 of the amount.
The Investigation Officer in the case had also added Rajasekar as one of the accused in the case, but allow him to go on November 19, said the police official.
The sleuths from Vellore unit of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption laid the trap on a complaint along with evidences against the policemen.
“Rajasekar demanded his money after he learnt about the recovery of the consignment, found abandoned in Jamunamaruthur on November 21. Though the cops first agreed to return the money, they later detracted,” said ADSP M Balasubramanian.