Bribery case: Cop was already under scanner

Eight days before Assistant Police Inspector Rajesh Padvi of Oshiwara police station was named in an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) inquiry, he was transferred from his crime detection duties on grounds of suspected illegal activities, reports Shahkar Abidi.

Eight days before Assistant Police Inspector Rajesh Padvi of Oshiwara police station was named in an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) inquiry, he was transferred from his crime detection duties on grounds of suspected illegal activities.

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On Saturday, the ACB arrested head constable K. Patil, while he was trying to return a bribe. During interrogation, Patil confessed that API Padvi was the mastermind behind the scheme.

However, Padvi was under the department’s scanner for a while. “I was getting a lot of complaints against him,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone IX) M.M. Prasanna. “I was not satisfied with his style of functioning.”

A police source said Padvi was warned by his seniors for indulging in ‘illegal’ activities and was asked to mend his ways, before being handed over the transfer memo.

The ACB officials learnt that Padvi had busted a video piracy racket on July 14 and demanded Rs 2 lakh from Chandan Patre, a manufacturer of pirated DVDs for releasing four of his employees. Another pirated DVD seller, Parasanjit Vishwas and his brother were also detained until the entire bribe amount was paid. Vishwas then contacted Police Commissioner D. Shivanandan, who ordered an ACB investigation into the case.

Sources continued that an internal inquiry by a senior officer about one and a half years ago had resulted in negative remarks about Padvi.

Padvi did not respond to the calls made by Hindustan Times.