Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, aug 28: The local circle inspector (CI) Gangi Reddy has been accused of destroying a tape recorder belonging to the Lokayukta, that was proposed to be used to record a conversation between Reddy and complainant Srinivas Prasad, and serve as evidence against the circle inspector in a corruption case.
Srinivas Prasad from Mundruppady, who is a transport operator, had bought a truck from Bauthis Miranda from Laila village. He had some dues in respect of this purchase. The truck was found to have been stolen from near Prasad’s home on August 1, when Prasad was not in station. When his wife visited the police station for filing a complaint, she was sent back, with instructions to send Prasad. When Prasad came, he was questioned about the dues of purchase consideration of the truck.
After Prasad found out that two persons named Prakash and Jayaraj Salian had stolen the truck, he received a call from them, challenging him to get the truck released from their clutches. They reportedly demanded for payment of Rs 1.5 lac for releasing the truck. Prasad alleged, that when he approached the police station, the circle inspector placed before him a proposal to close the case through compromise, subject to the payment of bribe. Prasad then approached the superintendent of police, who said, he would issue instructions to the assistant superintendent of police. As the case could not be registered even after putting in lot of efforts, Prasad went to the Lokayukta, informing them that the circle inspector had demanded for a bribe of Rs 30,000. When he went to the circle inspector, duly taking a tape recorder the Lokyukta personnel had given him, Gangi Reddy reportedly told him that he knew about the complaint made by Prasad, and damaged the tape recorder by slamming it against the table.
During the raid at the circle inspector's residence in Laila village, the Lokayukta personnel recovered Rs 65,000 in cash, 138 grams of gold and two kgs of silver. Puttur assistant superintendent of police Dr Harshagupta too visited the residence of Gangi Reddy. Till late night on Friday, the Lokayukta officials were waiting for instructions from their higher officials. The team later went back, without arresting Reddy, who has since proceeded on leave. These are clear indications that the higher ups have decided not to pursue the case vigorously.
Curiously, a large crowd that had gathered in front of Reddy's house during the raid insisted that no case be registered against the circle inspector.