Pramesh S Jain
A Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) attached to Avalahalli Police Station has come under scrutiny after an audio clip, purportedly featuring a conversation between the officer and a shopkeeper accused in an illegal LPG sale racket, went viral on social media.
The shopkeeper had earlier been booked in connection with the alleged illegal sale of LPG cylinders. In the viral audio,the PSI is allegedly heard demanding money to drop the charges against the accused.
The officer is also purportedly heard assuring the shopkeeper that he would arrange a lawyer to secure bail in the case.
The allegations have been made by Deepa Ram,who identified the investigating officer as PSI,(Harinath Babu) .
According to the complaint,Deepa Ram was operating an LPG cylinder business with a valid licence.
However,he alleged that police wrongly treated the business as an illegal LPG sale racket,raided the shop, and seized the cylinders.
Deepa Ram has claimed that PSI demanded ₹1.25 lakh to release the seized cylinders.He further alleged that the officer offered to arrange a lawyer for the case and sought additional money towards advocate’s fees and court expenses.
The complainant has also alleged that police had initially collected Rs.1.80 lakh from him and later made further monetary demands.
Seeking justice,Deepa Ram has appealed for action against the officer,claiming he was being harassed despite running a licensed business.
Responding to the allegations,Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said the matter would be examined as part of the ongoing inquiry.
“There is a case registered against the accused,who has now levelled allegations against the investigating officer.
We will verify the allegations as part of the probe and take necessary action,”the Commissioner said.
Police are expected to examine the authenticity of the viral audio recording and determine whether any departmental or legal action is warranted against the PSI.
