The judge of Special Court for Corruption Act cases B. Mohan sentenced two inspectors of police, a sub-inspector and four retired police personnel to imprisonment in a graft case registered against them in 2000.
The prosecution case is that policemen attached to the Prohibition Enforcement Wing, Attur Wing, seized a two-wheeler belonging to Mathivanan (38) of Gangavalli on March 10, 2000, on charges of transporting arrack. However, no contraband was seized.
When he approached the policemen to release his vehicle, Saminathan, the then head constable, demanded ₹15,000. After negotiations with Inspector R. Sekar, he was asked to pay ₹10,000 and a fine of ₹1,100 as the case was registered.
Mathivanan paid ₹2,000 and promised to pay the remaining amount of ₹8,000, the next day.
DVAC trap
Unwilling to give money, Mathivanan alerted the sleuths of Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption who laid a trap. When Mathivanan handed over the money to Sekar and Saminathan the next day, DVAC sleuths along with Ganesan, District Inspection Cell Officer, caught them red-handed. The team also seized unaccounted money of ₹1.15 lakh from the office. The team seized hand-written name lists that carried details of toddy tappers and arrack distillers in the area from whom money was received.
The lists were sent to the Forensic Division in Chennai to identify the hand-writing of the policemen. Based on the report, DVAC registered a case against 22 persons, including Sekar, head constables and other personnel under Sections 7, 13 (ii), 13 (1) (a) (d) of The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy) of IPC.
The Judge convicted seven personnel, Sekar (57), currently, Inspector of Police, Coastal Security Group, Cuddalore, V. Arulmurugan (50), currently, Inspector of Police, Yercaud, K. Ravi (56), currently Sub Inspector, Economic Offence Wing, Salem, and Swaminathan (66), then head constables Maadha Manickam (66), Kader Sheriff (65), and constable Thangaraj (66). While Sekar, Swaminathan, Arul Murugan and Kader Sheriff were sentenced to undergo two years imprisonment, the rest three were sentenced to undergo one year’s imprisonment.
As many as 12 personnel were acquitted while three personnel, Mani, Sundaram and Jeyagopal, died during the trial. Complainant Mathivanan died before the commencement of the trial.
