The district police have ordered an enquiry into the leaked audio clip, in which, Mohamed Nazir, Inspector of Police, attached to the Sikkal police station, is allegedly seen demanding bribe for allowing illegal sand quarrying in his jurisdiction.
A day after the audio clip of the suspected ‘telephonic conversation’ between the police officer and one Kalidoss, an overhead tank operator working in Sikkal panchayat went viral in WhatsApp, Superintendent of Police Omprakash Meena, on Monday ordered an enquiry by Nataraj, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Ramanathapuram.
The SP said the DSP has begun the preliminary enquiry after the Inspector of police who had gone to Chennai, returned back on Monday. The DSP has been asked to submit the report in a couple of days. In the absence of any complaint, the police wanted to conduct an enquiry before initiating action, the SP said adding the police had suo motu taken up the case.
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He said if prima facie the Inspector was found guilty, the police would initiate departmental action against him. After which a detailed enquiry by an officer, above the rank of DSP, would be conducted before action was taken, theSuperintendent of Police said.
The police would send the audio clip for voice test during the detailed enquiry. In the audio, the police officer allegedly asked those quarrying sand illegally to complete the process between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. and pay him ₹20,000 for lifting every four loads.
The SP said even before the alleged audio clip, he had warned police officials in the district against indulging in any illegal activity. Besides being public servants, the police were the custodian of law and they should act as per law in a fair and just manner.
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Stating that the police had been taking stern action against illegal sand quarrying, he said they had seized 70 to 80 vehicles and booked as many cases in a month, while taking action against illegal sand quarrying in the district.
The police have seized seven vehicles and booked 11 accused on charges of illegal sand quarrying in different parts of the district in the last two days.
The accused were booked under section 21 (1) of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.