Police officers under scanner for underworld links, probe initiated

Over a dozen police officers, from the rank of inspector to assistant commissioners, have come under the direct purview of a senior core team, a source privy to the development confided. 

DT Next is in possession of names of police officers who are in their watch-list for links with the underworld. 

The investigation, which took off following the round-up of 73 persons on the city’s outskirts during a gangster’s birthday bash recently, has exposed several corrupt officers. 

The team investigating the gangster-police nexus has since collected proof of a senior police officer in the Chennai West Zone reportedly inviting none other than Choolaimedu Binu (who’s birthday bash was busted by police) as a guest to his son’s wedding. 

“The gangster is said to have presented a ‘huge gift’ to the officer too,” a cop disclosed. This officer has reportedly bought properties in posh localities, including in Anna Nagar with the ill-gotten wealth he had amassed. 

Another inspector now posted in Chennai West Zone, is under the scanner for his close links with ‘Arumbakkam’ Radhakrishnan, who recently surrendered after police intensified the search for him post Binu’s arrest. This inspector is said to be running two schools under false identities in Arumbakkam and Anna Nagar and has amassed assets running into several crores. 

“He is also said to be in an illicit relationship with a gangster’s wife, a lawyer by profession,” another cop said. Similarly, an inspector who was recently transferred to a station in Washermanpet police district, was very close to gangster CD Mani, the openly active gangster, when he was in the previous station in Chennai south zone. 

“Whoever takes charge of the particular station would come under Mani’s control and the incumbent inspector is no exception. It’s in the jurisdiction of this station where the anti-gangster unit caught ‘Pallu’ Madhavan, who spilled the beans about the mass gathering of history-sheeters to celebrate Binu’s birthday. The trap was indeed for Mani, but ‘Pallu’ Madhavan became an accidental victim,” said another source.  

Another inspector belonging to same police district is said to be close to gangsters in North Chennai, but for a price. “He never receives less than Rs 1 lakh in return for a favour. Though he was transferred from his previous station in South Chennai two years ago, his relationship with ‘Sambo’ Senthil continues and he has bought huge properties on ECR,” sources noted.    

Investigations by City police revealed that these officers operated through their own network to help each other evade the attention of the top brass. They have also managed to ‘cultivate’ friends in the DVAC to wriggle out of tight situations.  

“These officers take a lot of pain to impress upon top officers about their ‘commitment’ to work that they would even forego the official perks which come with their rank and experience. But they make much more through corrupt practices,” disclosed the source. 

Speaking to this newspaper, a very senior police officer said, “Without corrupt officers’ help, gangsters just cannot operate. But steps are under way to identify and neutralise their activities.”