Kolar district: sullied image of police

The then Superintendent of Police K P Puttaswamy was trapped by the Lokayukta sleuths allegedly accepting bribe on November 27, 2009. Even before an year two more officers - DySP Sangappa Chalavadi and sub-inspector S Y Mohan - are absconding allegedly after fleecing an industrialist to the tune of lakhs of rupees.

Puttaswamy, the second IPS officer in the State to be caught while accepting bribe, was to board a flight to Hyderabad for a training, the next day. The District and Sessions Court had refused bail for Puttaswamy. A clerk of the SP’s office was also trapped earlier.

Reason behind crime

The greed for easy money seems to be the reason in all these instances. In the latest case involving the DySP, it was found that the officers who recovered money from an industrialist did not deposit it into government account.

Instead, they kept the cash with themselves and later managed to pay the rest. The instance has come to the notice of the higher ups.

A department staff, who refused to be identified, said many more such incidents occur in the department but do not come to light.

Public unhappy

The involvement of police personnel, particularly those at higher echelons, has not gone down well with the public. “The people should have already launched a fight. Police shoulder the responsibility of protecting people. They should be awarded exemplary punishment,” Satish, an advocate said.

Meanwhile, the absconding officers have moved an anticipatory bail petition before the District and Sessions Court. The application is stated to be heard on Monday.