Three constables held for extorting Rs 12 lakh

HYDERABAD: Three city police constables were arrested on Sunday for extorting Rs 12 lakh from employees of a Mumbaibased plastic dealer. The arrested trio are DS Nagesh Goud attached with the Central Crime Station, G Mahesh Yadav and S Mahesh Kumar, attached with Sultan Bazar and Shalibanda police stations respectively. According to police, a Mumbaibased plastic dealer, Ashok Bhai has nearly 10 clients in the city to whom he supplies plastic material. One customer, Vishnu Solanki collects money from other clients on behalf of Ashok Bhai regularly.
As a practice, Ashok Bhai sends his staff to collect money from Vishnu Solanki. Two days back, Ashok Bhai's two drivers, Sailesh and Vishnu came to the city and were returning to Mumbai after taking `24 lakh from Vishnu Solanki. The CCS constable reportedly gathered information about the transaction and the three constables intercepted Ashok Bhai's vehicle near Pedamma temple on Road No 30 of Jubilee Hills. Identifying themselves as crime police, the trio started to question and the two drivers told them about their local contact, Vishnu Solanki. "The constables called up Vishnu Solanki and he was asked to come near Jubilee Hills police station. When he arrived there, the constables asked them to give the entire amount or else face action for carrying unaccounted money,'' police said.The trio even showed their identity cards and gave mobile numbers to Vishnu Solanki when he questioned about their identity. "The constables were sure Vishnu would not lodge a complaint as the money was unaccounted for,'' a police officer said. As he did not budge to the demand of the constables, the latter forcibly took away half of the amount. After Vishnu Solanki told Ashok Bhai about the incident, the latter came to the city and registered a case with Jubilee Hills police on Saturday night.