Bribery exposed, cops return Rs80k, arrest tobacco dealer

Nagpur: An alleged bribery episode exposed by social workers compelled cops from Pachpaoli police station to round up a tobacco seller and formally arrest him on Saturday. He had been earlier rounded up along with three others a couple of days ago, but let go after paying a bribe of Rs80,000, it’s learnt.
On Saturday, the tobacco-seller was called back to the police station on the pretext of returning his cellphone, given his Rs80,000 back, and placed under arrest. The arrest had taken place after a social worker asked a constable about the alleged bribery episode.
Sources said four persons had been rounded up by the special squad of Zonal DCP Gorakh Bhamre for dealing in illegal tobacco. Taking advantage of two similar sounding names, one of them had been let off after taking Rs80,000 from him. Offences had been registered against the other three.
According to sources, the cops from Pachpaoli police station Detection Branch (DB) had demanded Rs2.50 lakh from the man who was set free. He had bargained the bribe down to Rs80,000.
TOI is in possession of an audio clip in which an eye witness was heard revealing how the amount was paid and where it exchanged hands. In the clip, the conversation goes that the cash was handed over behind the DB room (DB room ke peeche). ‘Mobile bhi le liye the’ (mobile phones were also taken away from them) could be heard in the conversation in the clip.
TOI had sent the clip to the commissioner of police for reference, in which details about the alleged episode could be heard. CP Amitesh Kumar, on learning about the allegations, asked Zonal DCP Bhamre to immediately take a close look into the matter.
The man arrested on Saturday was produced before the court the same day, and sent to judicial custody.