Belthangady circle inspector demands bribe to close case; IGP suspends him

Mangaluru, Oct 14: Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Arun Chakravarthy has suspended Belthangady circle inspector Nemiraju, who has been accused of demanding Rs. 20,000 for closing a case.

The case relates to a complaint registered with the Belthangady police station against Abhishek under Section 66 A of the Information Technology Act for posting a defamatory post on a social networking site.

As Section 66 A has been held unconstitutional, the district police have started the process of closing all cases that have been booked under this section. One such case was against Mr. Abhishek. The Deputy Superintendent of Police had recommended closure of case against Mr. Abhishek and had asked Mr. Nemiraju to file a report to the jurisdictional court.

Before filing the report to the court, Mr. Nemiraju reportedly called Mr. Abhishek's father Dhanakeerti Ariga on the mobile phone and demanded Rs. 20,000 for closing the case against Mr. Abhishek.

Mr. Ariga filed a complaint to Superintendent of Police Bhushan Gulabrao Borase on September 22 seeking action against Mr. Nemiraju. He also sent the audio clipping in which Mr. Nemiraju can be reportedly heard demanded money to Mr. Borase.

Additional Superintendent of Police C.B. Vedamurthy inquired and submitted a report to Mr. Borase and concluded that the allegation is true. On the recommendation of Mr. Borase, Mr. Chakravarthy suspended Mr. Nemiraju and ordered a departmental inquiry.