Liquor consignment: Cop booked for ‘demanding bribe’ for safe passage

After preliminary inquiry, Lunawada Deputy Superintendent of Police Bachu Ninama registered a complaint with the Bakor police station in Khanpur taluka.

In the complaint, Ninama alleged that PSI A M Baria and three others had demanded bribe from a Rajasthani person to let the liquor consignment pass through the limits of Lunawada police early this month.

According to the complaint, Baria, then posted at Lunawada police station, intercepted the truck loaded with Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth Rs 34 lakh near Vada village on Shamlaji-Lunawada state highway on February 2.

"However, instead of taking legal action by arresting the driver and seizing the liquor consignment, the PSI struck a deal with the boss of the truck driver... to ensure smooth passage of the consignment within the limits of Lunawada police," the FIR states.

However, a team of state vigilance department intercepted the truck near Dalvada village in the jurisdiction of Shehra police in the district. During interrogation, driver of the truck, Ratanlal Prithviramji Rahegar, spilled the beans.

"The driver told investigators that PSI Baria had entered into an agreement with his boss in Chittorgarh district. He also said he had recordings of telephonic conversations between Baria and his boss in his mobile phone," DySP Ninama said.

The FIR further states that Baria had demanded bribe money to be sent through courier.

The vigilance team had arrested the driver and seized the truck, bearing registration number of Kutch district and loaded with liquor. The driver reportedly told police that he was asked to deliver the consignment in Vadodara city.

After the incident had come to light, Baria was transferred to headquarters of Panchmahals police in Godhra on February 5.

The PSI and three others have been booked under Sections 7 (public servant taking bribe), 13 (criminal misconduct by a public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. They have also been booked for damaging evidence and not following law under various sections of Indian Penal Code.

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