250 ganja peddlers in bribe list of Salem Deputy SP

The tainted Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Salem district, P Kumar, has in the past allegedly collected bribes ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000 from not less than 250 ganja peddlers in the districts of Salem, Namakkal, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri-all of which fall under his jurisdiction.

“There may around 60 to 70 peddlers in each district. On an average, his collection may be more than Rs 25 lakhs per month. He used to collect the amount from peddlers directly or it would be deposited in his account,” a senior official with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) said.

The official further said that the DSP needs to be interrogated to know if anyone else in the department had a hand in the offences of bribery. “The DSP is now undergoing training for police officers in Hyderabad. He is expected to return on July 26, when further inquiries will be held,” the official added.

The official also said that investigations will also look into immovable and movable assets accumulated by the DSP with the amount collected in bribes. “Also, efforts would be taken to freeze and seize his ill-gotten wealth,” the official added. 

Upon booking the case, multiple police teams also raided the house of DSP Kumar in Ganapathy, his father’s house at Mohanur in Namakkal and that of Sibi Chakravarthy in Thanjavur.

Though no cash was seized, the DVAC teams have gathered the DSP’s bank and other account details, besides other information.  The DVAC on Monday booked the DSP, his relative M Sibichakravarthy, Superintendent, Treasuries and Accounts Officer in Thanjavur and the then NIB CID Inspector, K Shantha.

K Rani of Tiruchengode blew the lid after she was allegedly forced by the DSP to sell ganja and pay him bribe. When she approached the DSP to release her husband detained under Goondas Act in July 2017, the police official demanded a bribe of one lakh rupees. 

She then negotiated and agreed to pay Rs 25,000. Inspector K Shantha had separately demanded and received a bribe of Rs 49,000 deposited in her account by threatening the ganja peddler in November 2017, according to sources. In another instance, the woman cop allegedly received Rs 80,000 as bribe from her and demanded Rs 1, 20,000 more.

Unable to bear their torture, the complainant moved to Andhra Pradesh, although the DSP reportedly continued to call her for money.