Four Bengaluru cops suspended for extorting bribes via Paytm from 'drunk drivers'

According to higher officials, the officers were neither given the responsibility of checking for drunk driving nor were given alcometers by the department.

news Suspension

Four police officers from Bengaluru have been suspended after it was found that they were taking unauthorised fines from drunk drivers via digital payments and letting them off without issuing receipts or seizing their vehicles.

Top police officers in the city carried out a special undercover drive after receiving numerous complaints from the public. During this drive, four officials from Bengaluru’s Ashoknagar traffic police station were caught taking bribes.

ACPs Sathish and Kavitha went to the spot as soon as they received the complaints where they were able to confirm the complaints.

The suspended officers have been identified as Assistant sub-inspector Muniyappa, constables Gangaraj, Nagaraj and Harsha. The four stationed themselves at Srinivagilu Junction near Koramangala where they carried out their unofficial ‘checks.’

According to reports, the Joint Commissioner of Police B R Ravikanthe Gowda stated that the officers were not given the responsibility of checking for drunk driving and they were not given alcometers by the department.

A complaint had been made to a senior police official, stating that the four were carrying out such inspections and had been collecting fines without issuing challans or receipts. Upon further investigation it was found that the four officers were using private alcometers which were not issued by the government or police department. The four officers stationed themselves near Srinivagilu Junction which falls under Ashoknagar traffic police station limits.

In addition to the alcometers, a cash amount of Rs 32,000 and several drivers’ licences have been recovered from the suspended officers.

According to the Times of India, the four men also allegedly employed individuals, who were not a part of the police force, to harass motorists.

A case has been registered with the Viveknagar police station against the four traffic policemen for extortion and misusing an official position.