Delhi Police Officer Caught in Major Corruption Scandal
In a shocking case that has exposed deep-rooted corruption within law enforcement, the Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has formally charged three individuals, including an officer from the prestigious Delhi Crime Branch, for allegedly demanding and accepting massive bribes totaling Rs 80 lakh.
The accused have been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Shivkumar of the Delhi Crime Branch, along with Chitresh Bhupendra Sutaria and Sanjay Patel, both residents of Ahmedabad. The case represents a significant breach of trust within India's police system.
The Elaborate Bribery Scheme Unfolds
According to the detailed ACB statement released on Friday, November 15, 2024, the case centers around a visa consultant who became the target of an elaborate extortion scheme. The incident began on July 29, when officers from the Delhi Crime Branch conducted a raid on the complainant's office located on C G Road in Ahmedabad.
During this raid, authorities conducted extensive searches of both the office premises and the complainant's vehicle. The seizure included substantial evidence: two laptops, two printers, 17 passports, wallet, Aadhaar card, ATM card, driving licence, voter ID, PAN card, two cheque books, and Rs 20,000 in cash.
Following the raid, the complainant and the owner of 'Om Global Tours' were taken to Navrangpura Police Station under the allegation that the complainant's name had surfaced as a co-accused in an FIR registered by the Delhi Crime Branch.
The Middlemen and Escalating Demands
The plot thickened when ASI Shivkumar contacted his associate Sanjay Patel, while the business owner reached out to his friend Chitresh Sutaria. Interestingly, both Sutaria and Patel were already acquainted from previous interactions. These middlemen intervened and secured the immediate release of the detained individuals.
The ACB investigation reveals that the complainant subsequently traveled to Delhi to meet ASI Shivkumar, who initially demanded an astonishing Rs 1 crore bribe. This massive amount was allegedly requested in exchange for removing the complainant's name from the case and returning the seized original documents.
When the complainant expressed inability to arrange such a substantial amount, the Delhi Crime Branch proceeded to officially name him as a co-accused and declared him a fugitive. However, in a suspicious turn of events, the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Crime Branch notably omitted any mention of the documents seized from the complainant.
The Trap and Dramatic Arrest
Undeterred by the threats, the complainant approached the Gujarat ACB and filed a formal complaint. The anti-corruption agency then set up an elaborate trap in Ahmedabad's Paldi area, where the bribe transaction was scheduled to occur inside a vehicle.
Inspector S N Barot of Field-3, ACB Ahmedabad, masterminded the operation that led to the dramatic arrest of Chitresh Sutaria, who was caught red-handed while accepting the Rs 10 lakh advance payment. The entire amount was successfully recovered by the ACB team.
The three accused had allegedly negotiated a revised bribe amount of Rs 80 lakh, with Rs 10 lakh to be paid upfront as advance payment. The remaining amount was to be delivered after the original documents were returned and the complainant's name was removed from the chargesheet.
This case highlights the serious challenges of police corruption in India and demonstrates the effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies in tackling high-profile graft cases. The Gujarat ACB has shown determination in pursuing corruption allegations even when they involve officers from other state police forces.
