POSER FOR COPS

ACB seeks exec magistrate for identity parade

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) has written to the revenue department seeking an executive magistrate for an identification parade of suspected policemen who tried to extort money from a transporter.

The suspects posed as policemen from deputy commissioner of police (zone-VII) Sanjay Shintre’s special squad. “They took money from the complainant and threatened him with legal action, claiming they were from the special squad. We are working on the case with whatever clues we have,” a senior ACB officer said.

The complainant is a clearing agent at the Mulund check naka. The ACB officer said investigations were at a crucial stage. “The transporter had apparently evaded octroi; the suspects came to know about it. Initially, the transporter paid the money, but when the amount was increased, he approached the ACB,” the officer said.

Niket Kaushik, additional commissioner of police, ACB, said that according to the complaint, four persons posing as policemen had approached him.

Two agents, Rahul and Vishal, have been arrested in connection with the case. “We will go through the identification procedure before taking further action,” an ACB official said. “We have collected evidence against the ‘policemen’. As per the circumstance of the case and the nature of the complaint, we suspect that the culprits committed such crimes in the past as well. But we need more people to come forward with complaints.”


The Times of India, January 10, 2011