Chennai: Police nab man who planted illicit liquor to trap woman, shunted out

Chennai: Three police officers, accused of trying to frame a woman in an illegal liquor case for refusing to pay a bribe last month, have been placed on vacancy reserve after a departmental inquiry found the allegations against them prima facie true. According to sources, on December 24, Mylapore police searched the home of Vanitha, a woman who runs a packaged drinking water business. They received a tip that the woman was using her business as a front for selling illegal liquor. During the search, officers allegedly found a can full of liquor and arrested her. However, Vanitha and her family alleged that corrupt police officers had framed them in exchange for refusing to pay a bribe.
When the matter reached top officials, a team was formed to investigate the allegations. During the investigation, it was discovered that the liquor recovered from Vanitha’s home had been smuggled from Andhra Pradesh by a bootlegger, who had been tasked by the three officers to conceal the liquor between the water cans. Because Vanitha had a prior criminal case, the police believed her arrest would arouse suspicion. Based on the results of a departmental inquiry, senior police officials ordered disciplinary action against the officers. Following this, three officers from the special team, identified as Pragalanathan, Selvakumar, and Vinoth, were placed on a waiting list pending further action. Police sources said further action would be taken after the investigation was completed.