(Reproduced from the Times Of India pg 16 October 30, 2007)

CAUGHT RED-HANDED
Senior Andhra cop held for stealing

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Visakhapatnam: AP policemen continue to court trouble. The Mudigonda firing, Vakapalli gangrape case, Vizag fake encounter, and a top cop’s rude behaviour have already sullied the image of the cops in the state. But the recent arrest of a senior cop takes the cake. His crime: he was found stealing laptops, cell phones, cameras, among other things.

 Armed reserve deputy SP of Nizamabad P Appa Rao was arrested for theft at Duvvada railway station by the Government Railway Police (GRP) on Sunday morning. The GRP personnel recovered three laptops, 12 cellphones, two digital cameras, a wristwatch, nine suitcases, 14 railway bedsheets and other railway property from the accused officer, even as the policeman claimed he was “innocent”.

 The GRP also raided the house of the accused at Venkojipalem in the city and recovered several articles allegedly stolen by the police officer from co-passengers.

According to the police, Rao was a frequent traveller, making several official and personal visits from Nizamabad to Visakhapatnam and back.  As he always travelled in air-conditioned bogies, Rao used to ‘pick up’ the belongings of his co-passengers. The GRP has been watching Rao for two weeks following several complaints against him. They also kept a watch on his residence.

“Many have accused him of stealing things. They would go to his office with their cellphones, and when they came out, the phone would be gone. Embarrassed to ask a policeman if he had taken it, they would simply leave,” a GRP official said.  

The distance between Nizamabad to Visakhapatnam and vice-versa takes overnight to traverse in a train. The GRP officials say the arrest was made based on a confession by the police officer’s son P Madhukar, who was also arrested on a theft charge a fortnight ago. Madhukar was nabbed for stealing a cellphone in the railway station.

Meanwhile, Rao has maintained that he is innocent. “I am being framed by my enemies. I have nothing to do with any of thefts. I will prove my innocence in the court,” he told TOI.

Click to join ... Corruption_Lets_fight_NOW

Email friend .... HOME

Main aim of NGO to organise citizens.

HC orders Demolition of 379 police chowkies...after PLEAD files PIL

View report by CNN-IBN about PIL filed by PLEAD against Mumbai police at High Court.

Read article about PIL in The Times Of India.

for RoguePolice.com.....Click here