Guntur: A police officer entrusted with upholding the law is alleged to be taking illegal routes for money. The incident revolves around a young doctor from Guntur city who regularly visited a gym in Lakshmipuram to stay fit. There he became acquainted with a few people, and over time they turned into friends. As his father was a retired employee and he himself was a practicing doctor, he was financially comfortable and often spent money to help his friends meet their needs.
Exploiting some of the young doctor’s weaknesses, these gym friends allegedly hatched a plan to extort a large sum of money from him. As part of this plan, one day they arranged for fake narcotics police to kidnap the doctor from the gym in a car. He was taken to the outskirts near a jonnalagadda (cornfield) close to LAM, where he was threatened that he had a drugs habit and that cases would be filed against him. They warned him that his life would be ruined if he were booked in a drugs case.
Posing as a fake Narcotics CI, one of them demanded ₹50 lakh, saying the case could be avoided only if the money was paid. When the doctor said he did not have that much money, they asked him to call his friends. From the kidnapping location, the doctor called all his friends urgently asking for money, but everyone said they did not have any. He then called the gym friends as well. Although they already knew about the entire plan, they pretended ignorance, asked him what had happened, and claimed they would help.
This is where the story took a turn. One of the gym friends, who was a key conspirator, allegedly had close connections with a Circle Inspector (CI) of a police station on the outskirts of Guntur city. After informing the CI, the latter immediately stepped in and arranged for the young doctor’s car to be pledged with a moneylender known to him, raising ₹3 lakh. Taking this money, the gym friend managed to get the doctor released from the clutches of the fake narcotics police.
A few days ago, the young doctor lodged a complaint at a city police station regarding this incident. The police registered a case and began investigation. During the probe, CCTV footage and technical evidence revealed several crucial details. The footage showed that the persons who took the doctor in the car, posing as fake narcotics police, were chatting with the gym friends even before the kidnapping. Technical evidence also indicated the involvement of the Circle Inspector.
It was then that the doctor fully understood that his own gym friends had orchestrated the fake narcotics kidnapping. He also gathered details of those who acted as fake narcotics officers. After becoming convinced of the CI’s role as well, the doctor began pressuring the police to take action against all those involved.
However, allegations are now being raised that the investigation is being deliberately stalled. The reason cited is that the accused Circle Inspector and the Circle Inspector conducting the investigation belong to the same social group.
Suspicions Over CI’s Links With Fake Narcotics Gang
Given the CI’s connections with the gym friends who arranged the fake narcotics kidnapping, many suspicions have arisen in this case. Questions are being asked whether the same group, with the CI’s backing, has kidnapped others and extorted money earlier as well.
If the gym friend genuinely wanted to protect the doctor after learning that fake narcotics police were threatening him, he should have informed his CI friend and ensured the doctor’s release through legal means. Instead, getting the doctor’s car pledged and arranging money strongly fuels suspicions about the CI’s direct involvement.
There are already several allegations against the said CI. It is being alleged that money earned through illegal settlements is being routed into money-lending businesses run through his relatives and acquaintances. It is also being whispered among station staff that the CI rarely visits the police station and instead operates settlement activities from a private den.
According to local talk, a hotel recently set up near the Guntur RTO office is being used as a front to run the CI’s private “panchayats” (settlements). The hotel reportedly belongs to a constable, who is also said to be indulging in extortion with the CI’s support. At present, the CI is reportedly on leave.
There are also allegations that, fearing the matter might reach senior police officials, the CI has been threatening the victim doctor through WhatsApp calls. It is alleged that he has threatened to revive an old, long-closed love affair of the doctor and, if a complaint is made to higher officials, to get cases filed against him through the woman’s relatives and project him as a cheat before senior officers.
Complaint on CI’s “Panchayat” Activities Reaches Senior Officers
In another incident, it is alleged that the same CI illegally detained a person who owed money to one of his relatives at the hotel near the RTO office and threatened him. This matter came to light later, and the victim recently lodged a complaint with senior police officials, alleging that the CI confined him in the hotel and threatened him with a gun to extract money.
However, the CI of a city police station reportedly refused to register a case, bluntly stating that both of them belonged to the same social group. As a result, the victim directly approached the district police chief. Although the police chief ordered registration of a case, it is being discussed that the concerned Circle Inspector ignored the instructions, allegedly saying, “You are not my high command; I won’t do it just because you say so.”
Circle Inspectors Flouting Orders of Senior Police Officials
There is growing discussion in Guntur Urban limits that certain Circle Inspectors belonging to a particular social group are acting arbitrarily, believing that since their community is in power, anything they do will be tolerated. Ironically, there are no strong examples of genuine justice being delivered even to people from their own social group.
Victims allege that even if they belong to the same community, they are told outright at police stations that their cases will be looked into only if money is paid. If not, their grievances are not even heard.
Because of such behavior, the government is earning a bad name. When senior officers attempt to rein in these excesses, these CIs allegedly retaliate by smearing senior officials and filing false complaints against them through political brokers, claiming harassment of officers from their social group. This has become a major topic of discussion in Guntur.
Many believe that if field-level inquiries are conducted, it will become clear how even party cadre are suffering due to the actions of these officers. While it is understandable for coalition government leaders to ensure fairness to police officers from their own community especially considering the difficulties some faced during the previous five years shielding officers who are clearly acting illegally is seen as wrong.
There is a strong opinion that if such officers, who are bringing disrepute to the coalition government, are not sidelined, it will cause serious damage. While it would be unfair to say all police officers of a particular community are acting unlawfully, many feel that failing to act against those facing serious allegations will ultimately harm the government’s image in the same way public opinion turned against the previous regime.