A constable attached to the District Police Office (DPO) here was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly misappropriating funds to the tune of more than Rs 30 lakh. A search is on for another cop, also attached to the DPO, in this connection.
It is alleged that the two policemen, one of whom works with the cash section and the other on long leave, had been misappropriating the retirement benefits of several policemen for over one-and-a-half years.
The issue came to light when a retired police sub-inspector went to a bank at Manjakuppam here two days ago to enquire about his retirement benefits. However, he was informed by the bank staff that his amount had been deposited in another account.
On hearing this, other retired policemen who too were awaiting their retirement benefits, rushed to the bank to enquire about their money. To their shock, they discovered that their money too had been deposited in that particular account.
The matter was brought to the notice of Superintendent of Police Radhika and subsequently, a complaint was lodged with the district crime branch on Tuesday.
Following this, the police picked up constable Murali for inquiry and later arrested him. On Wednesday evening, he was produced in a court here and remanded.
N Nagaraj, district president of the Retired Policemen Welfare Association, said, “We suspect there could be a nexus between the staff of the cash section of the district police office and the bank staff. We assume that without the help of the bank staff, this kind of fraud cannot take place. Several lakhs of rupees had been misappropriated in this way for the past one-and-a-half years.”
He said, “Senthil Kumar, who is in the cash section, used Murali’s bank account to deposit these amounts. When the retired policemen asked Senthil Kumar about the amount, he kept giving them some excuse. If anyone of them grew suspicious and questioned him, Senthil Kumar would transfer money to that particular person’s account to prevent further suspicion.” Dharmalingam, a retired SI, said, “Not only me, several others have been affected. I have been walking to the office for the past three weeks to get my retirement benefits.” While Murali was arrested, Senthil Kumar is absconding. Sources said that investigation was on to find out if there was any nexus between the cash section staff of the DPO and the bank staff.
V.RAGHAVENDRA RAO,
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