CBI cracks down again, 3 cops land in bribery net

New Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation on Saturday trapped and apprehended three Delhi Police personnel posted at west Delhi's Khayala police station on alleged bribery charges. This is the second such operation by CBI this week. On Monday, an officer from the crime branch was arrested for a similar offence.The unprecedented CBI raids, in which around three dozen officers have been arrested this year, show the dire state of affairs in Delhi Police and call for drastic measures to ensure strict supervision. Just a week ago, Union home minister Amit Shah pulled up the police commissioner and his deputies, and warned of a massive shake-up, including of senior officers.In the latest trap operation carried out on Saturday afternoon, the accused officers, identified as sub-inspector Sudeep Punia, head constable Ajay Kumar and constable Rambir, were caught red-handed while accepting the bribe, CBI said. According to CBI sources, the accused were demanding a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh from a woman who runs a betting racket, in exchange for allowing her to operate her illegal business without any hassle. In a cleverly laid trap, CBI caught head constable Kumar accepting Rs 1 lakh as part payment from the complainant. The rest was to be paid as "monthly charges". CBI registered a case on Nov 29 based on a complaint against the accused officers on allegations that they were harassing the complainant for money. "It was alleged that the accused also threatened the complainant that if she failed to pay the demanded bribe amount, they would send her and her sons to jail in false cases," a CBI spokesperson said. "Searches are being conducted at the residential and official premises of all three accused," said a senior officer.In the raid on Monday, accused Sanjay Kumar, a head constable, was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh. According to CBI, the bribe was taken on behalf of sub-inspector Sanjeev Kumar and assistant sub-inspector Kirori Mal. All three officers were posted at the anti-narcotics task force (ANTF), crime branch office in Daryaganj. According to CBI, the bribe was accepted in exchange for not implicating the complainant in a case registered with the ANTF crime branch.In recent months, there have been massive raids on Delhi Police personnel as cases of bribery and corruption have skyrocketed. Two weeks ago, four policemen were arrested within two weeks. Then a head constable from northwest Delhi's cyber unit was arrested on bribery charges.On Oct 14, CBI arrested an inspector and a sub-inspector from Burari police station. Before that, CBI raided the Kalkaji police station and apprehended a sub-inspector on bribery allegations.