Four cops suspended on extortion charges

A head constable and three constables were on Tuesday suspended on the charges of extortion and dereliction of duty.

“The City Market traffic police station head constable Jagadish and three other constables—Yogendra, Arun and Ananth - have been suspended on the charges of dereliction of duty.

“The street vendors and autorickshaw drivers had alleged that the four were indulging in extortion. I recommended the suspension based on evidences against the four,” DCP (Traffic West) S Girish told DH.

The autorickshaw drivers and the vendors had informed the DCP about the extortion. They had alleged that cops on patrol bikes collected Rs 20 from each vendor, while those in Hoysala patrol vehicle Rs 50 from each vendor. They had also alleged that constables tortured the vendors by making false accusations that the vendors conducted business without permission, the DCP added.

Girish had obtained permission from Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hithendra for a sting operation.

He posed as a customer and followed the four officials wherever they went, collecting money from the vendors between August 24 and 27. He videographed the extortion and submitted a detailed report to his senior officers, recommending suspension of the four.

All the four were summoned for questioning. The constables pleaded innocence. They said that the vendors were making baseless allegations.

The constables had no option, but to confess, when the DCP showed them the videos, said the police.

The police have requested the vendors, businessmen and public to approach senior officers against any extortion attempts by lower rung officials.