Only 2 cops involved in gutkha scam?

The news of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) registering an FIR against only two middle-level police officers and 15 others from other government departments along with illegal traders in connection with the multi crore gutkha scam leaving senior officials untouched, has raised many an eyebrow. 

“I was not even summoned for an inquiry and I am hearing about the FIR from you. I served as Assistant Commissioner in Red Hills (where gutkha godowns were operating) between 2014 and 2015. There were many Assistant Commissioners and other officers who served in the jurisdiction before me and after me. They have the power to register an FIR. Let them probe,” said the Deputy Superintendent of Police, the highest ranking police officer to figure in the FIR registered by DVAC in connection with the Rs 39 crore gutkha scam. 

“Names of only two police officers - a DSP and an Inspector - are in the FIR. Others are traders and those from the Food Safety Department, Corporation, Central Excise and Commercial Taxes who could have prevented the illegal trade of gutkha,” disclosed a senior DVAC official. 

Apart from the government officials, DVAC has named a trader and a broker who had reportedly delivered cash to police officers, in the FIR. The probe is being directly monitored by a Vigilance Commissioner. When the scam broke out it was alleged that former City Police Commissioners had received kickbacks for allowing the illegal trade of gutkha. But now, the DVAC has decided not to drag any officer above the rank of DSP in connection with the gutkha scam probe. DVAC officials, however, claimed that the FIR is a result of preliminary investigation and not the final report. 

“We have just started the probe. The FIR is a result of the initial investigation. Names of more suspects may be added in the future.  A lot has still to be done. We may conduct some searches and more people could be summoned for questioning,” added another officer. 

While ordering the appointment of a Vigilance Commissioner to monitor the probe, the Madurai bench of Madras High Court had made it clear that the DGP and minister connected to the scam and others whose names figure in the gutkha scandal should not interfere with the investigation.

Nine months after Chennai Police Commissioner S George wrote a letter to the Home Secretary suggesting a probe to unearth the possible involvement of police officers in allowing illegal gutkha factories to function, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption registered an FIR against 17 people, including a DSP and an Inspector. 

DVAC had started the investigation in May by summoning gutkha traders who were raided by the Income Tax team in July 2016. George, in his communication to the Home Secretary in December last year, said that all the 30 officers belonging to the Red Hills police station jurisdiction starting from Inspector to Commissioner between 2011 and 2016 could be summoned for inquiry. 

It all started with Income Tax sleuths seizing a diary during a raid on July 7, 2016, from one of the illegal gutkha factories and godowns in Red Hills. The diary reportedly contained details of bribes up to Rs 20 lakh per month, given to certain police officers from the year 2011 onwards.  George wanted a probe because it would disclose the involvement of officers and also clear the names of officers who were not a part of the scam. 

During that period, there were six Inspectors at Red hills police station, three Assistant Commissioners, six Deputy Commissioners, five Joint Commissioners, six Additional Commissioners and four Commissioners in the city who served at senior level supervising the Red Hills police station. While the Opposition targeted the two DGPs who served as Commissioners in Chennai and demanded a CBI probe into the scam, the government ordered a DVAC probe.