Guna SP transferred amidst 20L ‘bribe’ case; four cops suspended

Bhopal: After chief minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday ordered the removal of Guna SP Ankit Soni, amidst an alleged bribery scandal in which local police are accused of taking a Rs 20 lakh bribe after seizing nearly one crore in cash from a businessman's vehicle, more details have emerged in this matter.After Ankit Soni was removed and appointed AIG at Police Headquarters, Hitika Vasal, Commandant of the 15th Battalion in Indore, was named the new SP of Guna.The controversy started from an incident on March 19, when police reportedly stopped an SUV during routine checking near the Ruthiyai outpost area. A search of the vehicle allegedly led to the recovery of around one crore in cash from a cumin trader from Gujarat.Sources alleged that instead of initiating formal legal action or informing the Income Tax Department, a "deal" was struck with the trader. Police allegedly retained Rs 20 lakh and returned the remaining Rs 80 lakh along with the vehicle, allowing the trader to leave.The matter escalated when discussions about the alleged transaction surfaced on social media. It later emerged that the Dharnavada police reportedly returned the 20 lakh after receiving a phone call from an IPS officer from Gujarat.As soon as the issue came to light, DIG Amit Sanghi reached Guna late at night and initiated a probe. Acting on the directions of IG Arvind Saxena, four police personnel — including Dharnavada SHO Prabhat Katare — were suspended. Others suspended include ASI Sajid Hussain, Head Constable Devendra Singh Sikwar and Constable Sundar Raman.