Karimnagar: The police department is supposed to curb crimes and illegal activities. But, some police officials and inspectors of different sub-divisions of the district are being accused of involvement in illegal activities, backing realtors and operators of sex rackets, besides extracting monthly collections from smugglers of sand and organisers of activities against the law. Director General of Police Anurag Sharma ordered an internal inquiry into the rising incidence in the department and collusion of the cops with offenders.
The district has six police sub-divisions, headed by sub-divisional police officer known as DSP. Every sub-division has around five circles supervised by inspectors who are assisted by sub-inspectors.
Certain DSPs and inspectors are allegedly indulging in illegal activities by joining hands with local extortionists and brokers. Also, they are extracting money by making settlements with regard to civil issues and cases of love affairs. Usually, police officials are not supposed to interfere in civil disputes.
According to sources, a top official and some inspectors from Jagtial sub-division were involved in the sex racket busted by Karimnagar police. It is said that the officials had collected several lakhs of bribe from realtors of the region with the help of the accused and a broker from the town. The police officials were found to be in objectionable poses with girls brought from Mumbai in a posh building, constructed on the outskirts of Jagtial meant exclusively for illegal activities.
It is said that the DSPs demand a monthly ‘mamul’ (bribes) from owners of liquor outlets, organisers of gambling and manufacturers of gudumba (illicit liquor). Each owner has to pay at least Rs 3,000 per month. They collect lakhs of rupees from smugglers of sand, every month. In addition, they use the monthly maintenance charges given by government to each police station. A sum of Rs 25,000 is being granted to rural police station and Rs 50,000 for urban police station every month.
When asked, SP D. Joel Davis said that he had not received any complaints against the police officials from anybody. He stated that an informal inquiry was begun into the misconduct of cops. Sources stated that the DGP also initiated a probe into growing corruption and involvement of police officials in illegal activities.
