‘Traffic police’ takes ‘bribe’, picked up by cops

It was only later that they learnt that the ‘policeman’ was rather a local political functionary out to teach a lesson to an actual Traffic Inspector whom the former accused of bribery.

Subramanian, a local functionary with the MGR-Amma Deepa Peravai, hogged all the attention at the District Collectorate in Thoothukudi on Monday when he demanded bribes from the public at the premises to redress their grievances. Police personnel deployed at the Collectorate then picked him up and held inquiries.

Subramanian then revealed that he dressed up as a police personnel and involved in the bogus act of collecting bribes from the people in a bid to teach a lesson to the Inspector of Thoothukudi Town Traffic Police Wing for the latter’s alleged practice of bribery.

Subramanian alleged that the Traffic Inspector demanded bribes from the drivers of those vehicles which carry containers of water to cater to the basic needs of the people, who have been facing hardship from the drinking water scarcity, before they entered into town.

Moreover, the Inspector had been instructing the drivers to enter into town only during specific hours and not beyond that, Subramanian said.

Subramanian then demanded that the police allow such vehicles transporting water into Thoothukudi town anytime, like how it was in Chennai.

Police personnel later advised Subramanian not to indulge in such acts,sources said.