Corrupt cops: Who will cop them?

 In 2019, 371 officers reportedly faced inquiries while in 2020, 408 officers landed in trouble despite pandemic lockdowns

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: For those who always believed that the policemen ensuring their safety and keeping a watch on criminal elements are upright and immune to corruption, this could come as a bit of a dampener.

As many as 235 police officers and personnel have been suspended across the state till September this year, indicating a sharp increase in the number of those in khaki being indicted for corruption and dereliction of duty.

The figure for 2021 was much higher - as many as 319 policemen had to face the music for similar charges then, while this year, the number has already reached 235. In 2020, 159 officers were suspended while the number was 122 in 2019. Time and again there have been reports of allegations regarding corruption in the police department.

Recently after the death of a KR Puram Circle Inspector, the police department had to face the heat of allegations by social activists, politicians and citizens. As per the reports, at least 1688 police officers have faced trials for misuse of power and involvement in corruption in the last four years. Of them, 835 officers have been suspended while 68 have been dismissed from the department.

Also there is an increase in the number of policemen facing departmental inquiry due to various reasons. In 2019, 371 officers reportedly faced inquiries while in 2020, 408 officers landed in trouble despite pandemic induced lockdowns.

The number rose in 2021 with 441 policemen facing trial and this year until September, 468 officers across the state have been questioned over different allegations. At least 25 police inspectors have been suspended this year making the number highest compared to the last four years.

Last year, 27 inspectors were suspended. Experts and retired policemen in Karnataka comment that as long as there is corruption in all spheres of life, policemen and government officials too will be forced to get involved in scams and other illegal activities with the aim of making quick money.

Moreover if the trend continues, people may lose faith in the police department, they feel. Around 28 policemen including ACPs, Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors were suspended due to their alleged involvement in the Police SubInspector (PSI) recruitment scam.

Even an IPS officer such as Amrit Paul was suspended due to the allegations of irregularities against him. Recently a police inspector attached to KP Agrahara police station in the city was suspended for misbehaving with a woman staffer at a hotel in Indiranagar in an inebriated state.