The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in Coimbatore has initiated legal proceedings against a senior police officer, accusing him of soliciting and accepting a substantial bribe in connection with a land dispute investigation from last year.
Senior Police Officer Accused of Corruption
The DVAC has formally registered a case against M Gunasekaran, a 57-year-old additional superintendent of police currently attached to the city armed reserve. The allegations stem from his previous posting as the assistant commissioner of police for the Coimbatore city crime branch in 2023. Officials state that Gunasekaran is accused of demanding and receiving a bribe of Rs 4.40 lakh to influence the outcome of a cheating case.
The Land Deal and the Original Complaint
The sequence of events began when two real estate businessmen, A Nagaraj and K S Noorullah, approached the city crime branch on June 28, 2023. They reported a cheating incident related to a planned land purchase. The duo had intended to buy 2.08 acres of land near Vellalore, owned by Marudhachalam and his son Karthikeyan, to develop a housing layout.
After paying an advance of Rs 2.42 crore and initiating the layout process, Nagaraj and Noorullah discovered the land was embroiled in a court case. When they asked for their advance back, they found that Marudhachalam and his son had registered the same parcel of land in another person's name. This prompted them to file the official police complaint.
The Alleged Bribe Demand and Collection
Assistant Commissioner Gunasekaran, who was leading the inquiry, heard from Marudhachalam during the investigation. Marudhachalam stated he and his son would repay the advance in four instalments. However, the officer allegedly saw an opportunity for personal gain.
Gunasekaran is accused of demanding Rs 5 lakh as a bribe to "settle" the case. He reportedly introduced an intermediary, D Praveen, 38, of Sriram Nagar near Podanur, to collect the money. The transaction was completed on August 31, 2023, when Gunasekaran, through Praveen, allegedly received Rs 4.40 lakh from Marudhachalam.
Legal Action and Ongoing Probe
Following the allegations, the DVAC police have taken decisive action. A case has been registered against Gunasekaran under Section 7(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. This section pertains to public servants taking undue advantage to perform or cause performance of public duty improperly. The investigation is now actively underway to uncover all details of the alleged corrupt practice.
This case highlights the ongoing vigilance against corruption within public offices and underscores the legal consequences for officials who allegedly abuse their power for personal enrichment.
