41 pc rise in criminal cases against Delhi Police officials

Vijaita Singh, New Delhi, March 6, 2007

THERE HAS been a disturbing 41 percent increase in the number of criminal cases against Delhi Police officials in 2006 as compared to 2005. In other words, 84 criminal cases were registered against Delhi Police officials in 2006 as against 59 in 2005.

Policemen were booked in cases like rape, murder, kidnapping, extortion, theft and fraud.

The total number of police officers arrested for such crimes stood at 37. And the arrested included an inspector and five sub-inspectors.

In all, 27 police officers were arrested on bribery charges by the Vigilance Department in 2006. In fact, the figure seems to be on the rise even this year. A few days ago, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrested an Assistant Commissioner of Police posted with the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police on charges of extorting money from a Jaipur-based diamond merchant.

These figures were part of the annual report of the Delhi Police, submitted in Parliament on Tuesday by Minister of State for Home S. Reghupathy. The report said that a majority of the arrested policemen were either constables or head constables.

According to the report, 46 policemen were arrested for criminal offences in 2004 while 36 were arrested in 2005.

Several steps have been initiated to keep policemen under constant scrutiny. These measures include surprise checks by senior officers, transfer of policemen with criminal records to non-sensitive posts, strict legal action and establishment of public grievance cells.