But DCP (New Delhi) T.N. Mohan insists that the Chanakyapuri Police arrested Mattoo on valid grounds. ``There is no question of victimising him. He was arrested on the basis of a genuine complaint made by US Embassy officials. He has even admitted in front of US officials that he took money from the woman after promising to get her a visa,'' says Mohan.

Mattoo says he has admitted nothing and has taken nothing. ``No one, even my seniors, is prepared to listen to me. How can they arrest me without even verifying the allegations? I am also a police officer, I would never have done the same thing.''

According to him, his brother Amarjeet Singh Mattoo and a travel agent Arvind Dhingle -- who area still in jail -- had struck a deal with a woman Manjit Kaur. ``I agree that my brother is in the wrong. He wanted to go to the US and probably found this as an opportunity to fulfil his dream. That's why he accompanied her posing as her husband. But I came into the picture only after my brother called me up and said he was in some kind of trouble in the US Embassy.''

When he went there, he says, he entered into ``an argument with the embassy officials because they ACP says he is a victim, DCP says he's blot on Delhi Police's image refused to allow him inside''. Says Mattoo: ``They didn't like it, so they accused me of being involved in the fraud as well.''

DCP Mohan, however, says Mattoo, his brother and the travel agent were arrested only after the Chanakypauri Police completed their preliminary investigations. ``The travel agent also talked about Mattoo's role in the whole scheme. Mattoo is a blot on the image of the Delhi Police,'' Mohan.

Mattoo, however, adds: ``Some senior officers don't like me. They have found an opportunity to victimise me. I am determined to clear my name. Let there be a departmental inquiry into the whole thing.''