2 cops arrested for taking bribe

SALEM: A police inspector attached to Kolathur police station was caught red-handed taking a

bribe

of Rs 5,000 from a man for releasing his bike, which he had seized from a location where locals had organised a rooster fight, without registering a case. A head constable, who helped the inspector, was also arrested.


According to Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption (

DVAC

) sleuths, they set a trap for inspector P Ravindran, 47, based on a complaint from M Senthil, who works with Mettur thermal power plant.

In his complaint, Senthil said he was involved in betting at a rooster fight near Kolathur on August 3 when inspector Ravindran came to the place to

arrest

the event organisers.

On seeing police, organisers and participants managed to flee, leaving their vehicles at the spot. The inspector seized 13 bikes, identified owners and summoned them to the police station. He demanded Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 from them to release the bikes without registering any case.

On Thursday evening, Senthil lodged a complaint with DVAC sleuths, who gave him chemical coated currency notes to be handed over to the police officer.

On Friday morning, Senthil gave the money to the inspector and DVAC officials arrested Ravindran when he accepted the money. Head constable P

Elango

was also arrested for helping the inspector.

DVAC officials registered a case against the duo and lodged them at the Salem Central Prison under judicial custody.