Two Delhi cops suspended for ‘colluding’ with shopkeeper to sell crackers

The DCP was informed and he immediately suspended both personnel, sources said. Representational image

Two police personnel of Mangolpuri police station were suspended Monday, after the vigilance unit of the outer district found they were allegedly colluding with a local shopkeeper to sell firecrackers — despite the Supreme Court ban on sale of firecrackers till November 1.

Police said the shopkeeper, identified as Manoj Kumar (40) has been arrested and a departmental enquiry ordered into the matter. DCP (outer) M N Tiwari confirmed the incident, but refused to divulge further details. Sources said Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik had directed DCPs of all 13 districts to form special teams to catch and prosecute shopkeepers and traders found violating the SC order.

“Apart from this, several DCPs also directed their vigilance departments to gather information about illegal sale of crackers in their districts. On Monday, DCP Tiwari was informed by the outer district’s vigilance team that Kumar was selling firecrackers allegedly in connivance with two beat officers. A raid was conducted and Kumar was arrested. Police recovered 19 kg of fire crackers and a two-year permit to sell crackers,” sources said.

The DCP was informed and he immediately suspended both personnel, sources said. “Tiwari later shared a recorded audio message on their official WhatsApp group, where he reminded all station house officers (SHOs) that if he found anyone selling firecrackers in their areas, then the SHO concerned would be held responsible… Apart from suspending beat officers, he said he will suspend the SHO as well,” police sources said.

Police have also arrested six others for selling crackers:

# A shopkeeper was arrested from Sultanpuri, hours after the DCP’s order

# Another man was caught red-handed from southwest Delhi’s Uttam Nagar by a police patrol team. “They received information that a man, Sushi Kawywal, was selling crackers in his grocery store. A raid was conducted and the accused was arrested,” a senior police officer said.

# In another incident, a man who ran a toy store was arrested from Rohini’s Prashant Vihar. “The vigilance branch received information about illegal sale of crackers and a decoy customer was sent to Virendra Kumar’s shop, following which he was arrested,” the officer added.

# A man, identified as Pradeep Kumar, was arrested from northwest Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar.

# Police also arrested two shopkeepers, including a woman, from northwest Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh.