Don’t bribe my staff in name of Deepavali gifts: Judge to police

In a communication sent by the principal district judge, Thoothukudi to the district police superintendent had asked police officials not to send any sweet and crackers in the name of Deepavali gift and bribe them. Judge N Logeswaran, in a letter to Thoothukudi district superintendent S Jeyakumar, has asked the police to stop giving gifts to court staff as it will be considered as an offence.

“I came to know that there is a custom of giving crackers, sweets and other types of gifts by police officials to court staff at the time of Deepavali and I am of the view that the above-mentioned act amounts to kind of bribery, which is an offence under Prevention of Corruption Act,” the judge said in the letter. He further asked the district police head to instruct all police personnel in Thoothukudi district not to give any kind of gift to court staff this festival season. When contacted, the district SP said already instructions are given not to give or receive any gift from other than those from the family.