Police clerk booked for siphoning off money

For many years, several police officers have wondered why they did not get the reward money they won for good detection and performance. An initial probe by Bhoiwada police has revealed that a senior clerk has been siphoning it into her accounts.

The reward money varies from Rs 100 to Rs 15,000, and the collective amount accumulated over the years (won by as many as 400 officers) makes it a case fit for investigation by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).

A case has been registered against Pooja Bhalerao who has been working at the Naigaum police headquarters since 2012. Initial probe revealed siphoning off of Rs 1.39 lakh over four years, but the cops suspect the amount could run into crores. Sources say Bhalerao has been transferring the reward money for many years.

"The accused would add her own account details in front of the police officers' names and thus transfer the money to her account," said a police officer from Bhoiwada police station. The incident came to light when a police officer from Naigaon local arms unit complained that he did not receive his cash reward.

Prized catch

The cash prize varies from Rs 100 to Rs 15,000
400 cops haven’t got their reward for years