Gujarat Policemen Arrested for Stealing Seized Liquor Bottles, Table Fans

Five policemen in Gujarat, including an assistant sub-inspector, have been arrested for allegedly stealing seized liquor bottles and table fans worth Rs 1.97 lakh from a police station.

In a shocking incident, five policemen, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), have been arrested for allegedly stealing seized liquor bottles and table fans worth Rs 1.97 lakh from a police station in Gujarat's Mahisagar district. The incident came to light during a routine inspection by senior officers.

Liquor Bottles and Fans Stored in Women's Lock-up

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) P S Valvi, the liquor bottles and fans had been stored in the women's lock-up at the Bakor police station in Khanpur taluka. The police had seized the items from a person who was attempting to smuggle liquor into Gujarat by hiding them behind boxes of table fans.

Missing Items Noticed During Cleaning

As the room meant to store such articles was full, they were kept in the women's lock-up. However, during preparations for an upcoming inspection visit by senior officers, the police personnel were asked to update the record of seized items and tidy up the police station. While cleaning the lock-up, empty or broken boxes of IMFL bottles and fans were noticed.

CCTV Footage Reveals Theft

An inspection revealed that 125 IMFL bottles worth Rs 1.57 lakh and 15 fans worth Rs 40,500 were missing. Following this, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered on November 13. CCTV footage showed that ASI Arvind Khant orchestrated the theft on the night of October 25 when he was on duty as the police station officer.

The footage showed Khant, along with head constable Lalit Parmar, entering the lock-up around 10 pm and coming out while carrying some liquor bottles. Khant also allegedly turned off the CCTV cameras for some time.

Arrests Made

Based on the CCTV footage, Khant, Parmar, and three other policemen were arrested under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 380 (theft) and other relevant offenses. A sixth accused, a local person who allegedly helped them, is currently absconding.

The arrest of five policemen for stealing seized liquor bottles and table fans has raised serious concerns about the integrity and accountability of the police force in Gujarat. The incident highlights the need for stricter internal controls and mechanisms to prevent such acts of corruption and theft within the police department.