The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing the illegal lottery scam, has submitted its interim report, which names at least four serving IPS officers and two retired officers who were allegedly in touch with suspected kingpin Pari Rajan.
Two of the officers are of IGP rank, including one who has emerged as the main link to Pari Rajan; one is an ADGP rank officer posted in the city and the fourth is Superintendent of Police (Lottery Squad) Dharanesh, who was suspended by the chief minister. Of the retired officers, both served as police commissioner in the city and one also as the State Director General of Police, sources said.
A senior officer in CID said that the interim report was submitted to the Chief Minister’s office late on Thursday following a request to that effect. Bipin Gopalakrishna, Director General, CID, confirmed to The Hindu that the investigating agency had submitted an interim report. He, however, refused to divulge details.
The report has details of the calls between the alleged kingpin and these officers, sources said, adding that CID has also submitted evidence, unearthed during the probe, on what they believe is proof of monetary transactions between the IGP and Pari Rajan.
The CID is yet to question the officers, but has come under criticism in official circles since they had not been given an opportunity to explain or justify the calls, an officer said. However, CID officers said the officers would be questioned and given an opportunity to defend themselves before the final report is submitted.
