Cops under scanner for shielding racketeer

Surat: Some personnel of Sarthana police station in the city are under scanner following allegation that they had received an amount of Rs 30 lakh to shield people involved in racket of altering chassis number of buses to resell them.
Surat joint commissioner of police (sector I) Harikrushna Patel had earlier this week ordered probe into allegations that cops had received kick-backs from racketeers. However, the inquiry is still pending. “I had received a complaint that police had favoured some person involved in a racket. Hence I had ordered an inquiry. At this moment I can’t disclose details,” Patel told TOI.

The racket came to light after police seized two buses with same registration number last week. Sources said that owner of the buses had provided strong evidence to Patel that could establish that cops from Sarthana had received money to protect the person (identity not revealed) who runs the racket from his garage.

On Saturday, Surat police commissioner Satish Sharma asked the concerned officer to register an offence in the case and initiate actions against those involved.

“We are inquiring if the allegations are true. I have ordered police to register a complaint against those involved in the racket of changing chassis number of buses,” Sharma told TOI.