VELLORE: Seven including a police head constable and a Tangedco worker was arrested by Paradharami Police on charges of extortion, after they stole liquor bottles from two Tasmac outlets disguising themselves as members of Prohibition Enforcement Wing, near Gudiyatham on Tuesday.
According to police sources, N Vajravelu (39), a native of Gudiyatham, works as a salesman at Perumalpalli Tasmac shop. “On Monday around 10.00 pm, a gang of seven persons on a car having a ‘police board’ on it visited Perumalpalli Tasmac Shop.
“A man got out of the car and walked into the Tasmac shop. He introduced himself as the DSP of Prohibition Enforcement Wing to the Tasmac staff and demanded bribe from them. He then took `1,500 cash and ten liquor bottles before fleeing the scene.”
Police sources added that the gang then went to another Tasmac shop in V S Puram in Paradharami and presented the same demands. They took five bottles from there after threatening salesman S Sathiyamoorthi (39). Upon suspicion, Sathiyamoorthi along with another staff Vajravelu filed a complaint with Paradharami Police.
The police alerted all check posts across bypass road and subsequently a van bearing a police sticker was stopped and seven passengers were taken to police station for inquiry. The investigation revealed that the first accused - T Prabararan (47) of Kodungaiyur, Chennai, is a head constable at Puzhal Police Station. Official records say he has been absent from his job for the past two years, sources said.
“He along with five persons from Pattabiram and Korattur - A Amulraj (36), K Senthilkumar (39), M Kamalraj (47), E Gurumoorthy (35) and S Karthikeyan (55) had come from Chennai to consume liquor through fraudulent means. They were also accompanied by D Ravi, a staff of Tangedco in Paradharami.”
“The gang introduced themselves as policemen and demanded liquor and money. We are also inquiring whether they have cheated any other liquor shops,” said a police officer. The seven face charges of extortion, use of foul language and criminal intimidation under the provisions of IPC. They were remanded in judicial custody.
Constable turns criminal
The probe revealed that the first accused - T Prabararan (47) of Kodungaiyur, Chennai, is a head constable at Puzhal Police Station. Official records say he has been absent from his job for the past two years, sources said