Ranjit Mahanti
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Mumbai has booked Senior Inspector Devram Dagdu Vadmare of Dadar Railway Crime Branch for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe from a foreign national. One of his associate policemen Kharat has been also booked into the matter.
According to the press note issued by ACB, the complainant is a Cameroon national and has garment business in Mumbai. On March 14 he was standing on Kurla terminus for going to Hyderabad. Introducing himself as a crime branch officer Kharat took him Dadar crime branch office. Without taking any action, Kharat locked him up till March 17.
Vadmare and Kharat allegedly demanded Rs 5,00,000 to release him. After bargaining they got ready to accept Rs 1,00,000 and accepted Rs 50,000 as first installment. But his passport and three mobile phones were kept in their possession. For releasing the passport and mobile phones they demanded another Rs 50,000. This time on March 21, the complainant approached ACB office.
During investigation the ACB officials found out that accused had accepted Rs 50,000 and were demanding Rs 50,000 for releasing his passport and mobile phones. On March 24 ACB registered FIR against Vadmare and Kharat.
Vadmare Speaks
Justifying his side Vadmare said, ‘I am in police service since 35 years. I cannot demand Rs 5,00,000. This is internal politics of our department. Lot of officials protect theft and thieves in railway. Since joining the Dadar crime branch I stopped their activities. Now they are trying to defame (frame) me. I am an innocent officer. ACB has recorded my statement.’
