Mumbai:
In an unprecedented move, the Maharashtra government has suspended 36 policemen for allegedly accepting bribe from a person, who caught the act on camera. The suspended policemen were attached to Nehru Nagar Police Station in Kurla, central Mumbai.
"We have zero tolerance towards corruption. We want to send out a strong message," said Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh.
The victim, Mohammed Khan, said he was carrying out modification work at his friend's house at Kurla. Mr Khan said the work started in the second week of March and since then, the place was frequented by these policemen who threatened to frame him in a case for carrying out illegal extension.
He then installed a camera in the premises and over the next few days, the policemen were caught on camera accepting bribe from Mr Khan ranging from Rs 50-150.
Mr Khan said he first approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), but it failed to take any congnisance of the matter.
The video footage was then submitted to the local Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), said Mr Khan, who initiated an inquiry and on the recommendations made by the investigating officer, 32 policemen, including the Inspector who was in-charge of the police station, were put under suspension on Wednesday.
This came on a day when former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police A K Jain was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by the special Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court for taking bribe from a junior officer for protecting him in a departmental inquiry. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh on Mr Jain.