Police Goes Soft On Patiala ASI Caught Red-Handed For Graft

The Patiala police has failed to arrest Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Narpinder Singh, posted as in charge, Rampur police post, who was caught red-handed for allegedly accepting a bribe for settling an NDPS case against a smuggler.

Besides the ASI, two head constables were also allegedly involved in the case. The police claims to have recovered the bribe money from a drawer in the in charge’s room. A case has been registered against the ASI at the Sadar police station, Samana. No action has been initiated against the two head constables.

Sources said two senior police officers were trying to shield the accused ASI. They said on June 16, the ASI had conducted a raid and arrested an accused with 5,100 psychotropic tablets. On his information, he raided the house of alleged smuggler Aman Mittal, who offered him to pay Rs 2.20 lakh to settle the case, they said, adding Mittal gave Rs 50,000 to the ASI on the spot and another Rs 70,000 at the police station.

The ASI later allowed him to call his associates to the police post with the rest of the money to settle the matter without an FIR.

A police officer said that later, Mittal’s friends came to meet him. The two head constables robbed them of Rs 30,000 at gunpoint. They also fired in the air to scare the visitors.

A senior police officer said that when the Patiala SSP learnt about the case, he ordered suspension of the ASI and registration of a case against him.

Interestingly, even as the CIA staff recovered the money, they let off the ASI after questioning him.

Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police HS Mann said that he can arrest him anytime. The case is strong against him as the bribe money has been recovered. His involvement in earlier cases will also be verified.

Mann added that he will not spare the other two policemen who had fired in the air. He was not aware of it earlier.