New Delhi: In a shocking development, four police officers from Karnataka’s White Field Police Station were taken into custody by Kerala police on charges of allegedly accepting bribes from an accused involved in an online fraud case. The accused had reportedly paid a bribe of Rs 10 lakhs to evade arrest.
The arrest took place when the Karnataka police officers were apprehended while traveling in a car that was “seized” from the accused. The four officers, identified as Inspector Sivaprakash and Constables Sivanna, Vijayakumar, and Sandesh, are currently under investigation.
According to ANI, the case has been registered under Sections 342, 384, 385, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). On Wednesday, during the interception, a sum of Rs 3.94 lakh was recovered from the vehicle.
Kerala | Four police officers including an inspector of the Karnataka police have been arrested in Kochi in a bribery case. They allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 10 lakhs from an accused to avoid arrest in a case. Case registered under sections 342,384 385 and 34 IPC.
— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2023
Following the incident, the Kerala City Police Department took swift action after receiving a complaint from a woman who alleged that one of the youths detained by the Karnataka police was involved in stealing her car. Deputy Commissioner of Police S. Sasidharan handled the complaint and initiated the necessary steps to address the issue.
As per the report in The Hindu, the Karnataka police officials were released after a CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) notice was served to them, directing them to appear before the city police on August 16 for further investigation.
The case being investigated by the Karnataka police relates to an online fraud involving illegal transactions through cryptocurrency. It stemmed from a complaint filed by a woman who claimed to have lost a substantial amount of Rs 26 lakh.
The allegations against the Karnataka police officers have raised serious concerns about corruption within the law enforcement system. The incident has drawn attention to the need for transparency and accountability in policing to maintain public trust.
As the investigation unfolds, both the Kerala and Karnataka police departments are expected to cooperate to ensure a fair and thorough inquiry into the bribery allegations. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the law and ensuring that those responsible for maintaining it are held to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
