Constable chargesheeted for ‘providing information to media’

A constable deputed at the Ahmedabad police headquarters has been chargesheeted for allegedly providing information to the media about gambling activity of cops within the police premises. However, the constable has claimed he was not even remotely involved to the incident and that he was being targeted for his previous harassment complaint against his superior officer.
On December 25, 2015 seven police officials including constables and an assistant sub inspector were gambling in room no 20 of the police headquarters.Once the incident came to light, police superiors instituted inquiry into the incident and action was initiated against guilty cops, including Hemu Master who was in charge of room no. 20 on the fateful day. Nine months later, constable Rameshkumar Barot was issued a chargesheet that though aware about the incident he did not inform his superiors and instead provided videos of the gambling cops and other related information to electronic and print media with the purpose of bring disrepute of the police headquarters. A flummoxed Barot, who says he has nothing to do with the incident, was issued chargesheet on September 22, 2016 and given 10 days to prove his innocence.
Post the incident that was splashed prominently in print and electronic media, then JCP S G Bhatti had ordered an inquiry into the matter. Police inspector D N Barad carried out the probe and submitted the report to DySP P V Raval. Action was initiated against the guilty cops. However, the other aspect of the investigation was to find out who passed the video clip and related information to the media. It was in this aspect that Barot was held responsible after checking call details of his mobile phone for December 21 and December 31. A police official said call records prove that he passed on information to journalists. Apolice official said, “If Barot fails to reply within 10 days then it will be recorded as admission of guilt and action will be taken against him under the Bombay Police Act of 1956.”
In-charge JCP (headquarter) Piyush Patel said, “The video of cops gambling had come out in the media. We had initiated inquiry against the guilty, arrested them and taken due action. However, Barot is accused of not informing senior cops about incident though he was aware about it.” Barot told Mirror: “I did not know anything about the incident. Around ayear ago, fed up by hostile behaviour of a police official I had called up the control room and told them I will commit suicide. An inquiry was also set up against me. I am being targeted for making the call to control room.”