4 cops suspended after video of them ‘accepting bribe’ from vendors surfaces

Confirming the development, a police official said that the four constables, who are beat marshals and part of the patrolling vehicle team, were allegedly accepting bribes for not taking any legal action against the vendors.

“It is clear that the four policemen were accepting bribes to avoid taking action against the vendors,” the official said.

The four policemen were identified as Mahendra Pujari, Kashinath Gajre, Gangadhar Kharat, and Appasaheb Vakchaure.

According to the official, someone had filmed four separate videos of the suspended policemen accepting bribes from various stall owners and hawkers. “The videos were filmed in December 2024, and the four videos were later combined into one and subsequently circulated on social media,” the officer added.

After the video was widely shared on social media, a departmental inquiry was initiated against the four policemen.

A preliminary inquiry, the official said, found that the four constables were at fault leading to their suspension.

The suspension order read: “A video clip showing police personnel working as beat marshals and mobile vehicle staff at Dharavi police station accepting bribes from hawkers and stall owners instead of taking legal action was circulated on social media. The actions in the circulated video tarnished the image of the Brihanmumbai Police Force among the public.”

The official added that a detailed inquiry has been initiated against the four policemen, following which further actions will be taken.