Ranjit Mahanti
IN a significant development from Mumbai, an FIR has been lodged against three police officers stationed at the Borivali police station in suburban Mumbai including a Senior Inspector, an Inspector, and a female Sub-Inspector, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe. The complaint was filed by a 31-year-old woman from Mumbai, who accused the officers of soliciting a bribe of INR 5,00,000 and accepting INR 2,25,000.
The accused officers, identified as Senior Inspector Sudhir Kalekar, Inspector Arvind Ghag, and Sub-Inspector Swapnali Mande, were reportedly involved in the extortion during the investigation of a case filed by the complainant against her husband and in-laws. The bribe was demanded in exchange for favorable actions in her case, including the return of her dowry and stringent action against the accused in her complaint.
The case, filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, comes after the complainant took the matter to court, alleging that the officers demanded the bribe to facilitate the legal proceedings and ensure strict measures against the accused in her case. The court, upon reviewing the complaint, ordered the registration of the FIR under section 156(3) of the CrPC, leading to the official documentation of the case as MECR 04/2024 on February 6, 2024.
This incident has brought to light the pressing issue of corruption within the police force, raising concerns about the integrity and accountability of law enforcement officers.