4 min readChandigarhAug 2, 2023 07:21 AM IST
First published on: Aug 1, 2023 at 06:21 PM IST
The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) on Monday night arrested two men — one of who was later identified as the brother of a local BJP leader — for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3 lakh at the behest of two Chandigarh policemen.
The bribe, CBI officers said, had allegedly been demanded by the two Chandigarh policemen — identified as Inspector Harinder Singh Sekhon and Constable Pawan Kumar — to clear the name of one Deepak, who stood accused of allegedly extorting money on behest of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Deepak had approached the CBI with a complaint in the case following which a trap was laid and the two men, identified as Anil Kumar ‘Kuki’ (a scrap dealer), a resident of Sector 16, Panchkula, and one Manish Dubey was arrested from the Industrial Area on Monday. Kuki, investigators said, had a godown in Makhanmajra village. Both the accused were presented before a local court on Tuesday and sent to three days of CBI custody for further interrogation.
According to investigators, Manish Dubey alias Babloo, a resident of Sector 32, is the younger brother of Chandigarh BJP leader and former councillor, Anil Dubey. As per details, Anil Dubey’s wife Bimla Dubey is the current elected councillor from Chandigarh’s Ward Number 9.
Meanwhile, the CBI on Tuesday served a notice to Inspector Harinder Singh Sekhon — the in-charge of the Operations Cell of Chandigarh Police — to join the investigations, following which the force promptly transferred him to the police lines, Sector 26, with immediate effect.
The bureau also conducted a search at the house of Sekhon on Tuesday morning.
Inspector Sekhon, meanwhile, has responded to the CBI notice by stating that he will need to seek due permission from the police department before joining the probe. The second accused policeman, Constable Pawan Kumar, who was posted in the PCR wing, is currently absconding.
A CBI officer involved in the case said,”The FIR against the two accused and police constable Pawan Kumar was registered following the complaint of Deepak, a resident of Ramdarbar. Deepak is a friend of one Amandeep Singh, alias Mani Rajput, who is also a suspect in a case of extortion. Mani Rajput and Deepak’s name was figured during the interrogation of two suspects who were arrested by the Operations Cell last month for allegedly extorting money from some local businessmen. Inspector Harinder Singh Sekhon and Constable Pawan had demanded Rs 7 lakh from the complainant Deepak for not taking legal action against him. Pawan told the complainant to hand over the money to Manish Dubey and Anil Kumar alias Kuki. A trap was laid at the Industrial Area where Manish Dubey and Anil Kumar alias Kuki were arrested red-handed while accepting the bribe on Monday night.”
A case under sections 7, 7A and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and under Section 120B of IPC was registered at Zonal headquarters CBI, Sector 30, against the accused.
Contacted, SP (operations) Mridul said, “DGP (UT) has been apprised of the case. Inspector Harinder Singh Sekhon, has been sent to the police lines, Sector 26, with immediate effect. Constable Pawan has been suspended. An internal probe has been ordered against both the police personnel.”
Contacted, BJP leader Anil Dubey told The Indian Express, “Anil Dubey told The Indian Express, “My brother has been made a scapegoat and arrested by the CBI. Neither he [Manish Dubey] nor any of the policemen named ever asked for any money from the complainant [Deepak]. Deepak placed the bribe money in the shop of Anil Kumar ‘Kuki’, a scrap dealer, and claimed that the same had been sent by my brother. Deepak insisted that Anil Kumar ‘Kuki’ count the money. As soon as Anil picked up the money to count, the CBI officers swooped-in and arrested him. He was set up from the get go.”
The BJP leader’s wife Bimla Dubey admitted to The Indian Express that Manish was her brother-in-law. She, however, expressed ignorance about the CBI case against him.