Eleven policemen from the Delhi Police and Uttar Pradesh Police have been suspended for allegedly taking a prisoner to a clothes showroom on MG Road for shopping, while escorting him back from a court hearing on Thursday. The prisoner, alleged carjacker Manoj Bakkarwala, is wanted in about 500 cases of vehicle theft and attempt to murder.

Police sources said Agra Senior Superintendent of Police Modak Rajesh Rao has suspended the six Agra policemen and an inquiry is going on.

Agra reserve police line inspector Parshuram Singh said a head constable, three constables and a driver were provided among the Delhi Police team escorting Bakkarwala. The SSP has also sent a communication to the Delhi Police for action against the five personnel.

A police spokesperson said Bakkarwala, a “high risk category accused”, was brought to Agra by Delhi Police’s security personnel on Thursday. A local police team, headed by head constable Virendra, was deployed as escort. While escorting the accused after the hearing, the policemen were caught on camera when they stopped their vehicle on MG Road for Bakkarwala to do shopping, the spokesperson said.

“The suspended officers have been identified as assistant sub-inspector Ashwin, head constable Rajesh, and constables Yogendra, Padam, Krishan and Sanjay. Action was taken after the video went viral on the internet. Bakkarwala was purchasing shoes and clothes along with the police personnel,” a senior police officer said.

Sources said Bakkarwala, accused of stealing more than 350 vehicles, has a record of escaping from police custody thrice in the past. He had given the Crime Branch a slip in 2011, when they cornered him at ITO. He also ran over a sub-inspector while attempting to flee from police.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Armed Police’s 3rd Battalion is probing the role of their men into the gangwar incident which occurred inside a prison van on Tuesday, leading to the death of two prisoners. “The six officers in the van, posted with posted with the 3rd Battalion, have been sent to district lines. A departmental inquiry has also been ordered against them,” said DCP, 3rd Battalion, S K Tewari.

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