The state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau has sent a proposal to the commissioner of Mumbai police, seeking sanction to prosecute policemen allegedly involved in a bribery case that was exposed in Nehru Nagar in Kurla (east).
According to the anti-corruption bureau, 36 policemen from Nehru Nagar police station had demanded and accepted bribes amounting to Rs34,900 from Kasim Khan, a resident of Nehru Nagar, between March 9 and March 26. The bribes were allegedly taken to turn a blind eye to unauthorised construction of a room. This case had created a furore with such a huge number of personnel from one police station being exposed in the bribery case. The “acceptance” of bribes had been recorded on camera.
Prosecuting a policeman requires the prior sanction of the chief of police.
The bureau’s additional commissioner, Rajeshkumar Mor, told dna, “We have sent a proposal to the police commissioner, seeking sanction to prosecute [the policemen]. We believe there is evidence against the 36 policemen... Once the commissioner gives sanction, we will file a charge sheet in court,” said Mor.
Kasim Khan had claimed to have conducted a sting operation on the 36 policemen. “He had recorded the act by using a spy camera. Khan had furnished 21 DVDs [digital video discs] in which the policemen were seen and heard demanding and accepting bribes on different days,” an official of the bureau said on the condition that he not be named.
This official added that Khan had submitted the discs to senior police officers after which an inquiry had been ordered in the case.
“All 36 policemen had been suspended by the police chief a day after the assistant commissioner of police submitted the inquiry report on April 10,” said this officer.
The then senior inspector of Nehru Nagar police station, Dhananjay Bagayatkar, was also suspended as his subordinates, who are still facing suspension, were found to be involved in accepting the bribes. “The statements of some of the colleagues of these policemen corroborated the evidence. Also, the camera had captured the time and the day the policemen were demanding and taking the bribe. All we’re awaiting now is a forensic report of the discs,” said the officer.
Bribe-seekers in khaki exposed?
Kurla resident Kasim Khan and his friend Prakash Nawal were renovating the latter’s house.
Policemen from Nehru Nagar demanded money to allow him to proceed with the work as the civic body had stopped work for want of clearances. Khan then suggested to Nawal that they film the policemen demanding and accepting bribes.
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