The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has launched a probe into allegations that huge sums of money were paid as bribe to senior police officers in Chennai by manufacturers, sellers and transporters of the banned maava/gutka.
The State government ordered the inquiry, acting on a letter sent in December last by the then Commissioner of Police S. George, recommending that allegations of corruption be investigated by an independent agency.
In a communication to the State Home Secretary, Mr. George said that after he assumed charge as Commissioner of Police on September 7, 2016, he received intelligence regarding the illegal sale of maava/gutka in the city.
Police officers at all levels were instructed to conduct raids on sellers/manufacturers/transporters/distributors of the illegal products. Several cases pertaining to the contraband substances were detected.
Mr. George went on to add that he received information that the illegal activities relating to the sale/manufacture/transport/distribution of maava/gutka were being carried out in the city with the “active connivance” of certain police officers of various ranks who had served or are serving in Chennai Police. “There are also allegations that there is connivance at senior levels,” he said.
On July 7, 2016, the Income Tax Department conducted a raid on the gutka godowns and factories in Red Hills, Chennai. Consequent to the raids, it was learnt that central agencies were probing the prevalence of such illegal activities and the connivance of police officers.
Illegal factories
The illegal factories were operating from 2011 till the date of the raid, he said. During that period, four Police Commissioners, six Additional Commissioners, five Joint Commissioners, six Deputy Commissioners, three Assistant Commissioners and six Inspectors served in the Chennai North, district, range and police station limits.
“It is true that the State Government has forwarded the letter of Mr. George to us for enquiry.
The procedure is that we conduct an enquiry first and register a case if prima facie offence of corruption is made out,” a DVAC official told The Hindu .
Parrying questions on whether the I-T Department had shared any evidence with the investigating agency and senior police officers would be summoned for enquiry, the official said investigation was in a preliminary stage and suspects, irrespective of their rank or position, would be examined if their involvement in the offence came to light.
The task of investigation was entrusted to a special team under the direct supervision of a Superintendent of Police.
