Three Rajasthan cops arrested in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Saturday arrested three officials of the Rajasthan Police for extorting money from a liquor vend owner in Chandigarh, officials said.

According to the CBI officials, after getting a complaint from vend owner Parveen Chug, they laid a trap and arrested the trio - Sub-Inspector Rakesh Kumar, Head Constable Shakeel Mohammed and Constable Khema Ram - red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs.25,000.

The trio had come from Rajasthan’s Sirohi district, said a CBI official, who was part of the raiding team.

A local court has sent the trio to 14 days judicial remand.

According to the vend owner, the trio approached him late Friday night and said that the Rajasthan Police had impounded his truck carrying liquor cases. Initially, they demanded Rs. 50,000 but later agreed on Rs.25,000 for releasing the truck, Chug said.

“I did not send any truck to Rajasthan and I knew they were trying to extort money. Therefore, I immediately informed the CBI who arrested the three,” he added.

Liquor, which is cheaper in this union territory as compared to other states, is frequently smuggled to states like Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.