3 anti-terror squad cops dismissed for taking Rs 18 lakh from jeweller

NEW DELHI: Three Delhi Police officials were dismissed from the force on Tuesday, for allegedly demanding and accepting an amount of Rs 18 lakh from a diamond merchant.

NEW DELHI: Three Delhi Police officials were dismissed from the force on Tuesday, for allegedly demanding and accepting an amount of Rs 18 lakh from a diamond merchant. Diamond jewellery worth Rs 2 crore were stolen from his car in east Delhi’s Preet Vihar last week.

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The three include an inspector, a sub-inspector, and a constable, all posted with special cell, elite anti-terrorist squad of the city police. They had allegedly taken the money from the jeweller on pretext of recovering the stolen jewellery from the thieves. The entire money has been returned to the businessman after senior special cell officers intervened into the matter and conducted an internal enquiry in which the three were found guilty.

Arvind Deep, special commissioner of police (special cell) confirmed the dismissal of their three personnel.

No case was registered and neither a departmental enquiry was initiated against the three. Senior officers say that through this dismissal order, the commissioner of police has given a message to the entire force that anybody involving in such malpractices will not be spared. Ironically, the three pursued the case, went onto nab two suspect sand recover part of the booty worth over Rs 70 lakh even as their DCP concerned had straightway turned down their request to probe the case.

The DCP had, in fact, asked them to pass on the information they had about the suspects, to the east Delhi police that were probing the case.

“By demanding money and accepting Rs 18 lakh in the name of investigation was a crime that Inspector Rahul Sahni, SI Nirbhay Singh Rana and Constable Ravindra Singh Bisht together committed. Though the suspects and recovered diamonds were handed over to the investigating teams, the three did not return the money to the complainant. Hence, their action called for a strict action,” said a senior police officer.

The wrongdoings of the three, the officer said, came to light on Sunday when Special CP Arvind Deep was informed about the deal between his officers and the complainant.

He initiated an internal enquiry and found the allegations true after verification.

In the meantime, the three learnt about the probe initiated against them.

“They returned Rs11 lakh to the complainant the same evening and asked him not to divulge anything to their senior officials against them,” said the officer. On Monday morning, the Special CP called the complainant and the three officers to his office for confrontation. Before meeting the Special CP, the remaining amount, Rs 7 lakh, was also returned to the complainant.

“The three pleaded innocence before the Special CP. However, when confronted with evidence, the three confessed to accepting money from the jeweller,” said the officer, adding that their dismissal order followed on Tuesday.