ASI steals, thrashes land broker; held

Surat: Police arrested a probationary assistant sub-inspector for allegedly thrashing a property broker near Shankheshwar Complex here on Saturday. The accused also robbed the man of Rs5,000 on Friday night.
The accused cop was found drunk and also the builder who lodged the complaint against him at Athwa police station. The complainant was also arrested under prohibition charges.

Police arrested Ashok Ramji, a probationary ASI, posted at Athwa police station for allegedly thrashing a person found drunk and taking his Rs5,000 to set him free. Ashok was also found drunk and booked under prohibition charges and various sections of Indian Penal Code for robbery and attack on complainant Rajesh Bhalakiya, a property broker.

Ashok was on duty near Kailash Nagar crossroads when he spotted Bhalakiya’s car. He stopped the car for checking and found Bhalakiya drunk. To set him free, he demanded Rs5,000 and thrashed him during an argument. Later he robbed him of his cash. Meanwhile, those with Bhalakiya in the car shot a video of the incident and shared it with people in their social media group.

Police registered an offence against the accused ASI on learning about the incident and later arrested Bhalakiya for being drunk. “Police have taken strict action against the accused ASI. He has been booked under serious charges. He had stopped the victim for checking and later looted him of his money,” said a police officer at Athwa police station.