The Acting Officer-in-Charge of Sainthamaruthu Police Station and a constable have been arrested by anti-corruption authorities following allegations that they sought a bribe to avoid filing formal charges against a drug suspect.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has arrested two police officers stationed at Sainthamaruthu Police Station on suspicion of soliciting a Rs. 20,000 bribe. According to CIABOC, the Acting Officer-in-Charge allegedly demanded the payment in exchange for avoiding the submission of an official B report against a suspect arrested on August 14 for possessing 70 milligrams of heroin.
The suspect was scheduled to be produced in court on August 15 following the arrest. CIABOC investigators allege that the Acting OIC offered to handle the case through a formal charge sheet instead of filing the B report, contingent on receiving the bribe amount. The suspect agreed to the arrangement, and plans were made to transfer the money after court proceedings concluded on August 17.
Since the Acting OIC was unavailable at the time of the scheduled handover, a police constable allegedly collected the payment on his superior's instructions. CIABOC officers apprehended the constable during the alleged transaction. Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of the Acting OIC. Both officers, who had recently been posted to the station, were transferred to Kalmunai Police Station for detention under CIABOC custody pending further inquiries.
Investigations into the alleged corruption are continuing.
