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Boutique owner who stung some cops hard

Naresh had been paying bribes to cops for many years. And then he decided to fight back
Last Updated 20 September 2014, 19:54 IST

 Naresh Kumar’s family has been running a boutique in the main market of central Delhi’s Ranjeet Nagar for over two decades. For the survival of his business, the 43-year-old has been paying bribes to local policemen for years. 

The policemen used to claim that the shop was illegal and it would be demolished if the bribe was not paid on a monthly basis. 

Naresh was helpless as a court order was also issued last year to seal several shops in the market, which also included his shop. But in the hope of getting justice someday, he began to record his conversations with the policemen last year. 

And he saw a ray of hope last month on noticing an advertisement issued by the Delhi Police in a Hindi newspaper. Now, his complaint has lead to the suspension of a head constable and three constables.

The advertisement claimed that Delhi Police had launched an anti-corruption helpline where one can send audio or video clips if any police officer seeks bribe or harasses a person. It encouraged people to do sting operations and send the audio or video clips on a helpline number through WhatsApp. 

Inspired by the advertisement, Naresh checked his mobile phone and realised that he had six audio recordings. 

He immediately sent them to the helpline number, and soon received an acknowledgement that a probe has been initiated regarding his complaint. 

Naresh tells Deccan Herald that policemen from Ranjeet Nagar police station had been demanding constant bribes for allowing him to run the shop and a godown for the past several years. 

He began to make the audio recordings in August last year after former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that people must record conversations as a proof against corruption. Naresh had also sent the audio clips to Kejriwal, but claims that no action was taken.   

Naresh alleges that on August 21, 2013, constable Santram came to his shop and demanded a monthly bribe of Rs 1,000 from his employee. 

“The employee then made a call to my cousin and requested the beat officer to talk to him. During the conversation, Santram demanded a payment of Rs 1,000 per month,” Naresh says. 

As paying bribe to every new beat officer had become a routine, Naresh’s cousin began to negotiate with the constable and the amount was settled at Rs 800 per month. 

In September 2013, a head constable identified as Kuldeep Tyagi met Naresh and took Rs 25,000 for not sealing the shop on an order of the court. 

“I had no choice as we were planning to file for a stay order on the court order and on the other hand I was being threatened by the policemen on the basis of the court order. All the conversations made with Kuldeep were recorded on my mobile phone,” Naresh adds. Naresh also alleges that on August 2, 2014, constables Ravi and Bijender came to his shop and demanded Rs 500 per month for running a godown. 

After negotiations, Bijender agreed to take a monthly payment of Rs 300. 

“I have accused four policemen of seeking bribe with evidence. Several other policemen have also harassed me over the years, but I have no evidence to prove that. Most of the shop owners in the area have been paying bribe and don’t report the matter as they fear further harassment by the colleagues of the accused policemen,” Naresh tells Deccan Herald. 

On the basis of Naresh’s complaint, a case under Prevention of Corruption Act was registered with vigilance branch police station on August 12. 

After initial probe, the vigilance branch police station informed senior police officers of the district police which led to the suspension of the four policemen. 

Naresh now claims that he feels more confident, and would not be paying any bribe in the future. 

“Even if I don’t have faith in local police, I now have a feeling that there are people in police who will take action on my complaint,” Naresh adds. 

The new anti-corruption helpline number – 9910641064 – was launched on August 6.  One can not only just call and register a complaint, but also send a recorded audio or video clip if any policeman harasses a person or demands bribe. 

Police have put out advertisements in newspapers as well as on radio to raise awareness about the helpline. 

“Once we get an audio or video clip, it is checked at the Forensic Science Laboratory for its genuineness. Once the authenticity is established, action is taken against the errant policeman,” says Deputy Commissioner of Police (Vigilance Branch) Sindhu Pillai. 

The helpline is the brainchild of Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi, who claims that he wants the force to be corruption free. 

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(Published 20 September 2014, 19:54 IST)

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