Traffic cops caught in Anti-Corruption Bureau net

Tall claims by Hyderabad traffic cops who brag about the “strict” special drives to nab drunk drivers were exposed when as many as 11 traffic cops of Begumpet police station, including an additional inspector and sub-inspector, were caught red-handed by officials of the Anti-Corruption Bureau while accepting bribes from commuters during a drive on Saturday night.

ACB officials of Hyderabad City range 1 claimed to have recovered Rs 16,400 unaccounted cash from the traffic police officials at Begumpet, Hyderabad. Begumpet additional inspector, traffic, A. Srinivas and SI Dileep Kumar were leading the drive.

Though traffic cops initially claimed they were carrying personal cash, ACB officials proved them wrong. “We got the statements of commuters, who paid bribe to the cops. We also checked the accounts of challans and the money they were carrying, and found that there were variations,” said ACB deputy superintendent of Police, City Range 1, S.K. Chandra Shekhar.

The ASI, Valiuddin, caught with more than Rs 13,900 in his pocket, confessed that the money was collected from commuters and it was about to be distributed among all the cops after they arrive,” said DSP Chandra Shekhar. A departmental inquiry has been initiated against the cops.