Bengaluru extortion case: Alok Kumar’s name yet to figure in report

Bengaluru: Suspended IPS officer Alok Kumar has reportedly got some reprieve in the alleged extortion case against him, which is being investigated by the Lokayukta police based on a complaint by Mallikarjun B.M. alias 'Fighter' Ravi.

It is learnt that Mr. Kumar's name does not figure in the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Lokayukta police as there is no "prima facie" evidence to suggest his involvement in the alleged extortion case.

"His (Mr. Kumar's) name has not figured so far in the call detail records (CDR) of Ravi. The CDR reflects calls made by a junior police functionary of Vyalikaval police station. There is evidence that writer Chandrashekhar of Vyalikaval station was in touch with Ravi, and hence, his name is in the FIR. The investigation is in the preliminary stage and more names may surface later," said an official source.

The Lokayukta police had initiated an inquiry into the allegations by Ravi that Mr. Kumar had demanded a bribe of Rs 1 crore to close a criminal case against him. In a written complaint, he had requested the Lokayukta police to register an FIR against Mr. Kumar for threatening him that a rowdy-sheet would be opened against him if he failed to pay Rs 1 crore to close a 2014 case in the Vyalikaval police station. The calls for the bribe were allegedly made by Mr. Kumar's subordinate officers, including the jurisdictional inspector, ACP and Deputy Commissioner of Police, stated the complainant.

Ravi had stated that he had gone to a bar with a friend on August 30, 2014, where they got into a fight with the management, which was recorded in the CCTV. Both the parties had filed complaints at the Vyyalikaval police station after which the DCP, an inspector and some other officers started calling Mr. Ravi telling him that they would settle the issue if he paid them money. He alleged that he had borrowed Rs 5 lakh from a friend and gave it to the inspector.

A day later, the ACP told him that the money was handed over to Mr. Kumar, but he wanted Rs 1 crore to settle the case.