Karnataka DySP suicide: Hafta malaise runs deep in force

BENGALURU: DySP M.K. Ganapati’s allegations that his higher ups were harassing him to make money and share has once again revealed the deep rooted malaise of corruption in the police department. From the constabulary at grass roots to the top police officials, it’s a well oiled corrupt system.

As in every other department, the police department has also built its own system to make money. Its not that the government is unaware, but it does not want break the system, as even the politicians gets their cut from top officials.

Sources said that each police station has its own way of making money. “It starts from street vendors. They know they cannot run their business on footpaths unless they bribe the cops. Even the cops know that there is no harm in accepting money from them, as they allow them to make a livelihood out of it. When both have no issues to bribe and accept bribe, corruption runs unabated. Its only beat constables or head constables who collect money from street vendors, paan shops, and even from bars, to allow them to keep open the shops beyond permissible time. The bars make money by selling liquor for a higher price after permissible time, and they should give a small share in it to cops. Both stand to benefit from this,” a constable working in the West division said.

This runs on a daily basis. But officers of the rank of sub inspectors, inspectors and ACPs have their own way of making money. “Those officers have their close aides to do things for them. They do not take the effort of collecting money every day. They will all fix monthly amount from each illegal business. Constables generally won’t approach such businessmen for money, as they know the fact they are paying up to the bosses. Money exchange will happen without anyone’s knowledge through a proper channel. A set of constables work for such officers and they will also get a good share of such money from their officers. Live bands, clubs, fake branded product sellers, those who run prostitution are some of those who pay on a monthly basis,” revealed another constable in the North division.

Besides such regular incomes, officers feast on some cases where huge money is involved. “Today, there is situation that if we recover Rs 10 lakh worth property, the complainants themselves offer Rs 1 lakh to the team which worked for the case. Also, there will be some cases where no complaint is registered, but only settlements are done. Even such cases fetch decent money,” admitted a sub-inspector in the South division.

Even senior officers of the rank of DCPs, DIGs, IGPs also have their own team, which collect money from each station through a proper channel. “Sometimes senior officials directly deal with the complainants and they get expensive gifts, if not cash, from them. The problem is it is difficult to stay clean in the department. We will be asked to bear the expenses of some or the other event. Seniors think we are making money and it won’t be a burden on us. Such attitude will obviously drive us to adjust to the system,” an SP said.

While this is the situation in the civil police, the officers at CAR, DAR and KSRP take money from their subordinates even to grant leave, as they do not have many options to make money, another officer said.