14 Barmer cops caught for embezzling Rs 39 lakh

JAISALMER: Fourteen policemen in Barmer district have been booked for allegedly embezzling over Rs 39 lakh collected as fines from traffic rule violators over nearly three years.


Based on an investigation report by deputy SP (SC/ST cell) Manaram Garg, Barmer superintendent of police Rashi Dogra Dudi lodged a case against the accused police personnel, including the traffic in-charge, with the Kotwali police station on Sunday.

As per the deputy SP’s report, a total of Rs 39,34,990 were collected as fines at the Barmer traffic check-post between April 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018, under the Motor Vehicles Act. But the money was never deposited with the treasury .

Deputy SP Garg said the irregularities were confirmed by the receipt books and other records checked by him. According to Garg’s investigation report, there were irregularities in the receipt and dispatch registers on a daily basis. Even the in-charge officer’s signatures were missing in many places. The office cash book, voucher book and other records were also not well maintained.

those who served as traffic in-charge at the Barmer check-post, between April 2016 and December 2018, have been identified as Anand Kumar, Shiv Lal Singh, Indra Chandra Meena, ASI Gaje Singh, Chitra Ram, Bhalaram, Kalaram, head-constable Gopal Singh, Dhudaram, Jograj Singh, Ugam Singh, constable Jagmal Singh, Bhanwara Ram and India Devi. A case has been lodged against all of them.

District SP Rashi Dogra Dudi had ordered the investigation by Garg after the audit report revealed irregularities in the challan amount. All the 14 police personnel were issued notices and their statements recorded.

Garg claimed that to suppress the embezzlement, the accused prepared fake records. Registers and receipt books were found missing. The challan amount from 2016 to 2018 was shown as deposited using receipt books and the register at various times, the officer said.

The corruption came to light when constable Jagmal Singh, who working at the traffic check-post, died and the policemen involved in the crime started fudging documents.