CHENNAI: Three police officials, who allegedly tried to implicate a woman in an illicit liquor case for not paying up bribe last month, were shunted out to the vacancy reserve after a departmental inquiry found the charges against them to be prima facie true.
According to sources, the Mylapore police searched the premises of the woman, Vanitha, who runs a packaged drinking water business, on December 24 based on a tip off that the woman was selling illicit liquor using the packaged drinking water business as a front.
When the police team conducted a search, the officials allegedly found a can containing liquor after which she was arrested. However, Vanitha and her family members alleged that they were framed by corrupt policemen as a retaliation for not paying bribes.
When the matter reached the top brass, a team was constituted to probe the allegation. During inquiry, it was found that the liquor found in Vanitha's premises was smuggled from Andhra Pradesh by a bootlegger, who was assigned by the three policemen to place the liquor amid the water cans.
As Vanitha had a previous criminal case, the policemen assumed that her arrest won't raise any suspicion. Based on the findings of the departmental inquiry, senior police officers ordered disciplinary action against the policemen.
Consequently, the three officials, identified as Pragalanathan, Selvakumar and Vinoth attached to the special team, were transferred to the waiting list pending further proceedings. Police sources said further action would be taken after completion of the proceedings.