Drunken cop held for loot, arson

A police constable was on Monday arrested for creating nuisance at a music shop in an inebriated state. The Maninagar police on Sunday evening had lodged a case against the constable, Rajendrasinh Baria, on the charges of loot and arson.

Sources said the incident occurred around 11pm on Sunday when Baria, who was heavily drunk, entered Crossroad Music Galaxy at Valabhwadi and announced that he had come to conduct a raid. Baria had an altercation with the salespersons who later charged him with looting Rs1,800 from the shop's cash box. The constable, they alleged, also damaged glass panes, CDs and DVDs in the brawl. As the cop was on the rampage, a large number of people from the locality gathered on the spot. Sensing trouble, Baria tried to escape from the spot but was nabbed by the people, who later took him to Maninagar police station. Sources said the police initially tried to settle the issue amicably without registering a case. However, whenthe people insisted, the Maninagar police lodged a case against the constable.

Sources said earlier too Baria was accused of creating a scene in public. About a month back, he was charged with assaulting a constable at Ramol police station. Sources said an inebriated Baria was interfering in the work of the police constable.