Forty-nine police personnel posted at the Nand Nagri police station in North-East Delhi have been transferred to the Third Battalion of the Delhi Police for allegedly letting betting syndicates and other illegal activities prosper in their area. Sources said the action was initiated after a 23-year-old man filed written complaints with senior police officers, President Pranab Mukherjee, Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung and the Delhi Government’s Directorate of Vigilance.
The action comes within days of a Station House Officer being sent to the lines. On Tuesday, SHO of the Mandawali police station was sent to the district police lines for allegedly patronising gamblers involved in a betting racket. Assistant Commissioner of Police of Madhu Vihar was also transferred in this connection.
“We wanted to set an example that dereliction of duty will not be tolerated. A total of 49 policemen of different ranks posted at the Nand Nagri police station have been transferred to the Third Battalion after a vigilance inquiry was initiated against them following complaints received from the public,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) Sanjay Beniwal.
“The decision to transfer them was taken one and a half months ago but it was not immediately imposed because of the impending elections. The decision was finally implemented on Saturday,” Mr. Beniwal added.
Betting racket and other illegal activities in the area were going on for a long time but the inquiry was initiated after getting the complaint recently, said a police officer.
According to sources, the complaint was filed by Lalit Singh, who runs a photo-copy shop in Nand Nagri with his father Himmat. According to him, several illiterate locals used to seek his help to write complaints against betting rackets and distribution of illicit liquor in the area. The complaints were then submitted with the local police. When the local police found out that Lalit used to help write the complaints, they visited his shop and allegedly threatened the father-son duo with dire consequences.
Lalit alleged that his father was also arrested on December 28 last year over a fake case and was sent to Tihar Jail. After the incident, the police allegedly used to frequently warn Lalit and his family members. Lalit now claims that he gathered evidence to teach a lesson to the local police and approached senior police officers. To make a strong case, he also sent the complaints to the President, Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung and the Directorate of Vigilance. Taking a serious note of the issue, a vigilance inquiry was initiated which held the local police guilty of giving a free hand to criminal activities in the area. A report was handed over to the Delhi Police Commissioner last month.
