State sends tough message, top cop Jain suspended

MUMBAI, JUNE 17: Ignoring immense pressure from politicians and police top brass, the Government today suspended Additional Commissioner o...

MUMBAI, JUNE 17: Ignoring immense pressure from politicians and police top brass, the Government today suspended Additional Commissioner of Police Ajay Kumar Jain, for his allegedly demanding bribe from an inspector under his charge. The suspension will take effect immediately.

The decision to suspend was based on the preliminary report from the Anti-Corruption Bureau ACB which trapped Jain8217;s chartered accountant, Prasanna Lodha while accepting the bribe on the former8217;s behalf.

On May 23, police inspector Sanjeev Kokil alerted the ACB that Jain, through his chartered accountant Lodha, was demanding Rs five lakh to avoid his suspension. Apparently, on the basis of a report submitted by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Jain was to suspend Kokil and four officers of the Byculla Police Station for derelection of duty.

Lodha, Kokil complained, said he could prevent the suspension if he gave him Rs five lakh for Jain. When Kokil expressed his inability to garner five lakh, Lodha settled for Rs two lakh.

Initially, it was decided to handover the amount to Lodha in Jain8217;s office but subsequently, the venue was changed and it was decided that the amount would be delivered to Lodha at a predetermined place in Mahim. The ACB laid a trap. As per the plan, Kokil, accompanied by a witness, joined Lodha in his car and handed over Rs two lakh to him. And even as Lodha called Jain on mobile to inform him the money was delivered, he was trapped.

On the basis of the First Information Report lodged by Kokil, the ACB registered an offence against Lodha and made Jain co-accused. Jain was immediately sent off on leave by the government pending inquiry.

Now, on the basis of the report submitted by ACB and also on the basis of the statement made by Lodha the government suspended Jain after dilly-dallying for weeks giving rise to suspicions that the government wanted to let him off the hook.

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A top official of the home department said, though Jain is an IPS officer, the state government was empowered to suspend him under the amended All India Civil Service Rules, because criminal investigations were pending against him. Jain is the second senior officer to be suspended by the the Democratic Front government. Excise Commissioner Ashok Lal was suspended earlier for rampant irregularities in the excise department.

8220;This is a message for corrupt officials. This should send a message across that the Congress-led government will not pussyfoot when it comes to taking against IPS or IAS officers,8221; said the official.

Asked if Jain would be arrested, the official said it was for the ACB to take a decision as it has been given a free hand in the matter.