IS cop suspended after video shows him taking bribe

CHENNAI: Put in a spot of bother after the video clip of a police official attached to the Intelligence Section (IS) accepting bribe from a man for not reporting about illegal sale of liquor went viral on Sunday, the Greater Chennai Police promptly placed the man under suspension. Sources said the action came after an internal inquiry found him guilty.

The IS constable, Kumuthanathan, was supposed to report to senior officers about the day-today activities at the station, and also the movement of history-sheeters and illegal activities in the police station’s jurisdiction.

However, exposing his shady activities, a video of Kumuthanathan accepting money from those involved in illegal liquor sale surfaced on social media on Sunday. In the clip that runs for nearly three minutes, the official is seen taking money from a two-wheeler ride near Egmore railway station.

Kumuthanathan is heard telling the other person that the Tasmac bar owners asked him not to visit, as the prohibition and excise department was monitoring the bars. Then the conversation goes into who the inspector in-charge for the area was and how the bar owners deceived him into believing their story.

It appears that the video was recorded by the other person whom Kumuthanathan addresses as Shanmugam. The conversation also reveals that he was arrested for selling mawa, after which he stopped dealing with it. Kumuthanathan is also seen asking Shanmugam to make sure the mawa seller too met and ‘take care’ of him, apparently a euphemism to paying up.

When contacted, a senior officer confirmed that Kumuthanathan was suspended after an internal inquiry proved him culpable.