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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, June 10: The Narcotics and Crime Prevention branch of the Delhi Police has very little to do these days. Corruption charges are increasing and only three cases have been registered at the branch’s police station at Kamla market in the past three months.
The dismal state of affairs — especially after the transfer of DCP Asad Farooqui — even resulted in a raid by the CBI at the branch’s police station today. A sub-inspector was arrested while accepting Rs 10,000 as bribe from an accused’s wife just outside the police station.
The CBI had received complaints that sub-inspector Sahib Singh was demanding Rs 40,000 as bribe from the accused, Heera, to free him. Heera, was arrested few days ago for reportedly possessing 15 gm of heroin.
Heera’s wife told the CBI that Sahib Singh had asked her to arrange Rs 40,000 for her husband’s release. When she pleaded that she was in no position to pay the money, the sub-inspector is believed to have threatened to implicate her in a false case.
A deal was finally struck at Rs 10,000 after she was advised by the CBI. Sahib Singh was arrested around 11 a.m. today, soon after he accepted the money from Heera’s wife.
Subsequent raids at his house in Bahadurgarh led to the recovery of Rs 25,000 and documents relating to several properties in his name in the city.
Sources told Express Newsline that Sahib Singh’s arrest reflects the lack of work at the narcotics branch in the past few months. Other than Heera’s case — which is the ninth FIR at the police station this year — the only two other seizures recorded since March are those of a 150 gm and a 20 gm haul of heroin.
Last year, however, the department seized heroin worth more than Rs 15 crore, the largest being a 10 kg haul from an Iranian.
In the absence of Farooqui, who has been transferred to Arunachal Pradesh and is currently on medical leave, DCP (crime and railways) Karnal Singh is holding additional of the narcotics branch. Singh was also on medical for a long time, he joined work only yesterday.
