Ludhiana’s reality TV catches cops accepting bribe

After Jagit Singh Chawla and Subhash Chander recorded three CDs showing the Ludhiana policemen — 12 of them — taking bribes, ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000, either for themselves or in the name of their superiors, there are red faces all around.

Four of these cops have been arrested FIRs filed against 10 under the corruption Act. The lottery operators have filed a writ petition in the high court in this regard and the court has sent notices to the state government.

Addressing a Press conference here today, SP (HQs) Arunpal Singh said the police have also identified 10 men who figured in the expose. Some of them are now absconding. But the SP alleged that the two men who made the recording were hardened criminals and faced many cases. IG Zonal S K Sharma has directed DIG Ludhiana to investigate the matter.

Speaking to The Indian Express, the two men, Subhash Chander, alias Katty, of Santosh Agency and Jajgit Singh Chawla, alias Bittu Chawla, said they took the drastic step after their complaints against harassment by the police went unheeded.

They traced their ordeal to the incident of a Dalit youth allegedly dying in police custody in October 2000. They alleged that the police, in order to pay compensation to the victim’s family, raided Subhash’s lottery shop opposite Shingar cinema in the town and took away lottery tickets worth nearly Rs 8 lakhs besides some cash and the office computer.

‘‘From then onwards, I was repeatedly blackmailed by the police though my name was subsequently cleared in the case,’’ said Subhash. But there was another raid on April 10 this year and then Subhash said he decided enough was enough. He alleged the policemen were demanding Rs 5 lakh from him for his freedom. ‘‘They told me the money was required for petrol to run PCR bikes. My friend paid Rs 1 lakh to the CIA staff to secure my release the same day and we decided to undertake this exercise to stop this harassment,’’ Subhash claimed.

The direct evidence of money changing hands apart, what is more interesting is the insight into police functioning given by the cops while talking to the lottery operators. Some gems:

• A policemen gives the account of the brother of an SSP who was caught with 15 kg of opium but was released under pressure and someone else made to own up.

• A well-known liquor contractor of the region, it was mentioned, supplied opium to the police in order to fix his rivals who were caught smuggling or selling liquor surreptitiously. The policeman claims on screen that a top police officer in the district was supporting this contractor and the police officials had often used his services to get liquor for parties.

• There was this frank admission that the opium lying in the maalkhanas of the police was frequently used to falsely implicate people. Other such items, including arms, in police maalkhanas, were used similarly.

Every conversation usually ends with the cops pocketing the money offered by the operators and walking out.

In a petition filed on Wednesday, Subhash has demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged custodial death of Raju, the Dalit youth, besides return of the money which was paid by the policemen to compensate the youth’s family.

The two have also asked for police protection saying they were under threat from all those who figured in the CDs. They claimed they had sent telegrams to senior police officers but to no avail.