Cops in fix over bribe demand

MUMBAI: Misuse of the legal provision meant to book buyers of stolen property have landed four policemen in trouble. The policemen, attached to the Dadar police station, allegedly tried to demand a few grams of gold from a jeweller on charges of purchasing stolen property from two robbers.
On May 29, four policemen walked into Ashok Gurjar's jewellery shop, Gurjar Jewellers on N M Joshi Marg, and accused him of buying gold from two thieves.The thieves also accompanied the cops and identified Gurjar. "The police took me to the station and detained me till next morning,'' Gurjar told TOI. He claimed that his brother Narendra had given him the four gold bars, each weighing 100 gm.
Gurjar said that the policemen then demanded 40 gm gold from him if he didn't want the police to file any charges.
The policemen allegedly demanded another Rs 50,000 for Gurjar's release."After much request, it was reduced to Rs 20,000. Narendra promised to make the payment in a week's time. We met the additional commissioner of police Niket Kaushik and lodged a complaint,'' Gurjar said.
On June 2, the ACB secretly videotaped the meeting between Gurjar and two policemen, where the latter demanded money. It was decided that Gurjar would pay Rs 20,000 by evening. "ACB teams laid a trap near Gurjar's shop and were waiting for the constables to arrive. But the policemen got wind of it and did not show up,'' Kaushik said.
Gurjar tried to call one of the constables, J Patil, but his mobile was switched off. Gurjar then went to the police station and offered the money. "The cops refused to accept the money and instead shouted at Gurjar for offering bribe,'' said an ACB source. Kaushik said that though they couldn't catch the two policemen red-handed they would investigate the case further. Gurjar also complained to the commissioner of police, Sanjeev Dayal.
ACP (Dadar Division) Madhukar Sankhe rubbished the allegations saying, "The jeweller is under the scanner for purchasing gold criminals.'' Assistant police inspector Gajanan Kurade, one of the accused officers, said, "We have recovered the stolen jewellery from Gurjar and submitted a report to the court. We have not demanded bribe from him,'' he said. Two others who are being investigated by the ACB are API Bharat Koyal and sub-inspector Jogendra Sawant.