Audio clips expose cop demanding Rs15k for ‘DCP squad’, Rs1.5L in MCOCA case

Nagpur: Four audio clips, allegedly of conversations between a constable of the DCP (deputy commissioner of police) squad and a racketeer, have exposed the brazen demand of Rs15,000 per month bribe to shield the latter from action. The two also discuss additional Rs1.5 lakh payment to remove the names of two persons from a case under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA).
On learning of the clips, city police chief Amitesh Kumar immediately acted against the DCP squad by suspending the cop in the audio clip, attaching the in-charge (a sub-inspector)of the DCP squad to the control room, and sending the remaining three constables to police headquarters. Kumar has also asked Zonal DCP Gorakh Bhamre to conduct an inquiry into the audio clips, and submit his report as soon as possible.
The police top brass has said the audio clips may be two to three months old. TOI has learnt the conversations took place around a week ago.
The cop is heard saying in Hindi that members of DCP squad cannot reveal to their counterparts at the police station that they know the racketeers. He tries to convince the racketeer that if he pays Rs15,000 by the 20th of every month to the incharge of the DCP squad directly or through him, there would be no action against him.
“DCP pathak mein jo log hoyenge na woh tujhko chhuyenge nahi. Yeh guarantee hai meri (DCP squad personnel will not touch you. I can guarantee that),” says the cop to the racketeer. “Rajmane ke issme hum hi log senior hai (we are the seniors in the squad of (Zonal DCP) Rajmane),” the cop is heard boasting to create an impression.
It’s learnt some of the lower rung personnel of the DCP squad had managed to threaten persons and extort money using the names of officers like Rajmane, who has a reputation as a tough and sincere cop.
“Uska paper hata dunga (I will remove his MCOCA case papers),” the cop assures the racketeer in the clip, referring to some ‘Sonu Monu’, who is likely to face charges under MCOCA. The constable says he will take ‘deed lakh’ (Rs1.50 lakh) on behalf of his squad in-charge from Sonu Monu to remove names from MCOCA action.
DCP Bhamre said a constable has nothing to do with MCOCA action, and hence the speaker cannot do anything even after taking the bribe. Bhamre added people should contact senior officers instead of dealing with constables if there is any issue with the action taken.
The Pachpaoli police too had come under scanner for corruption in December 2022 after a raid by the DCP squad. TOI had reported that four illegal tobacco dealers had been rounded up by the DCP squad. One of them was released by Pachpaoli police after he allegedly paid Rs80,000. After the others came to know this, the released man was summoned to Pachpaoli police station, where cops returned his money, and then arrested him.
DCP squad is also known to have ‘tied up’ with the detection branch of all police stations in Zone III of Central Nagpur, said a source in the police department.
Some officers of Tehsil police station too were close to the DCP squad in-charge. Sources said they have also started demanding double their ‘haftaas’ from racketeers after a new senior police inspector took charge at the police station.