Traffic cops ‘extort’ Rs 500 in cash as bribe, suspended

Sub inspector Senthil Kumar and constable Thangaraj were involved a vehicle check in front of a hotel near Gandhi Irwin Bridge when they intercepted a luxury car with a youth behind the wheel, said sources.

SI Senthil Kumar asked the youth to alight from the car, claiming that he was speaking on his mobile phone while driving the car. Though the youth defended himself maintaining that he was listening to the music on the audio system, the police team refused to listen to him.

While SI asked him to pay a fine of Rs 1,000, the youth refused, stating that he didn’t have the money. He added that he had only Rs 500 in cash. Though the youth was not ready to pay any fine, the constable insisted that he paid Rs 500. The young man tried questioning the officers as to why he should pay the fine in cash as the cashless payment system is in place in the city. However, Senthil Kumar refused to pay heed to the protestations, and took Rs 500 from the youth before allowing him to go with a warning.

The car owner, who believed that he was arm-twisted by the policemen to pay a bribe, informed the traffic control room about the incident. When the issue came to the light, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic-South Zone) R Sudhakar placed the SI and constable under suspension for allegedly taking bribe.