BENGALURU: On the night of Independence Day, a city-based software engineer says he was forced to cool his heels in the KR Puram police station over a parking issue.
Venki Nallagutla, working for IMS Health, claims that three policemen abused and threatened him and also allegedly snatched away his mobile phone, wallet and gold chain worth Rs 40,000. He has filed a complaint with Abhishek Goyal, Deputy Commissioner of Traffic, East division, seeking action against the policemen.
According to Venky, around 9.30pm on August 15, he had parked his car in front of KR Puram traffic police station where three cops approached him and demanded that he pay the fine. When he questioned them, the policemen allegedly threatened and abused him in foul language and asked him who he was to question them. “I said ‘I am an Indian’, and they took me and my cousin who was with me to the police station,” the complaint said.
Venky told Express, “Later the three policemen took me to the law and order police station of KR Puram and detained us for over five hours.”
“When I was trying to call my friend for help, they snatched away my mobile phone, wallet and one of them also took my gold chain,” Venky alleged.
“When I asked them why they had taken me to the station, they claimed I was drunk and was creating nuisance. I was not drunk and they could have subjected me to a breathalyser test. My cousin and I sat in the police station,” claimed Venky.
“Around 1am, an officer, probably an inspector, came to the station. These three policemen told him something in Kannada which I did not understand. He told them ‘go ahead’.
“Around 2.30am, the on-duty police asked us to pay Rs 2,000 to get out of the station. When I asked them why I should pay the money, the police said, ‘Rs 500 for releasing each person and Rs 1,000 as court penalty’. As I did not have my wallet with me, my cousin paid Rs 2,000 and we came out of the station,” said Venky.
Venky said that when he asked the police to return his gold chain, they allegedly said, “Which gold chain and what proof do you have that you were wearing a gold chain?”
Venky said that on August 16, he called the inspector over phone and narrated the turn of events. “The inspector said he would get back to me after inquiring. When he did not revert, I took the matter to DCP Abhishek Goyal on Wednesday,” he said.
“On Thursday, I recorded my statement with the ACP traffic east Sachin Gorpade,” added Venky. Abhishek Goyal said, “I have handed over the case to Sachin Gorpade. Once I get a report, appropriate action will be initiated.”