Kolkata, Aug 26 (IANS) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested another Constable from Jhargram district on charges of extortion, said the police on Wednesday.
A team of the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau conducted a drive in Jhargram on Tuesday night in search of the gang after receiving a complaint of extortion of money from trucks and tractors. Investigators caught three brokers, including a Constable from Jhargram Police Station.
According to the police, a complaint was filed with the Anti-Corruption Bureau that a police Constable was systematically extorting money from various trucks and tractors with the help of brokers.
After receiving the complaint, the investigators laid a trap and the three brokers were caught red-handed while trying to take the money from the truck owner.
During interrogation, one of the brokers said that the money was given to the police Constable after collecting it from trucks and tractors. He also said that he had already collected Rs 5 lakh from various trucks for the Constable.
According to sources from the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the mobile number of the accused Constable was saved in the broker’s mobile under the name ‘Jhargram Manager’.
It is learnt that the extortion money of that day and the previous Rs 5 lakh that were extorted, have been confiscated. Investigators said that a probe is underway to find out all those directly and indirectly involved in the gang.
The people who have been extorted and the amount of money collected from them is also being investigated.
Incidentally, earlier this month, the assistant engineer of the Jamboni BDO office in Jhargram was caught by the ACB officials while taking a bribe. After that, investigators conducted raids in various parts of the state and arrested several officials on charges of accepting bribes. This time, another official was arrested from Jhargram.
It is worth mentioning that a Constable was caught taking a bribe on August 18 and he was arrested. He was identified as Constable Shubhamoy Mondal of Nazirganj outpost in Sakrail police station area under Howrah Police Commissionerate. ACB officials caught him red-handed while taking a bribe of Rs 1 lakh and he was immediately arrested.
Earlier this month, ACB officials arrested Subrata Sarkar, a Sub-Inspector (SI) of Bantra police station in Howrah district, while taking money from the accused to cover up a case of bride torture.
In addition, a person named Shahbuddin Mallick was arrested recently by the ACB on charges of illegally collecting blood from Panshkura Blood Bank and selling it for money.
–IANS
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