Two Kolkata policemen offer bribe to BJP leader, suspended

Kolkata, Mar 28: BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha today said two Kolkata police personnel tried to bribe him in return for help in smuggling out cows to Bangladesh, following which the duo was suspended.

Sinha also alleged that it was a conspiracy by the Trinamool Congress government to trap BJP leaders in the sting operation before the Assembly polls and demanded a CBI probe.

Trinamool Congress, however, refuted the charge. Sinha, contesting Assembly poll from Jorasanko seat in the metropolis, said, "Two persons last night came to my home and wanted an appointment. Today they came to meet me in my party office."

"The two said they wanted my help in cattle smuggling and offered me huge sums. I immediately rejected the proposal and handed them over to the police station," Sinha said. "After initial interrogation, the OC of the Jorasanko police station told me that both are from the Special Branch of the Kolkata police.

I have lodged an FIR against the duo," Sinha said. "Both Subhasish Ray Choudhury, an ASI of the Special Branch, and constable Aminul Rahman have been placed under suspension pending enquiry into the allegations of Rahul Sinha," a top police officer said.

An enquiry under DC Central Division, Akhilesh Chaturvedi has been initiated against the two, he said, adding that since this was a non-cognisable offence, the accused have not been arrested but if found guilty they may lose their jobs.

"We are interrogating the two persons. As they belong to the Special Branch, Joint CP (Intelligence) is also looking into the matter," he said. "The duo has done this for their own benefit and Kolkata police has no link in the matter," Joint CP, Headquarters, Kolkata police, Supratim Sarkar.

Sinha alleged, "Actually it is a conspiracy by the TMC government to organise a sting operation against BJP leaders and tarnish our image ahead of Assembly election. But they have forgotten that BJP is a party of honest politicians."

He said the police department was under the chief minister. TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee, however, said in a sarcastic vein, "Every good thing is done by them and whatever is wrong is done by TMC. The people in the state know that whatever good thing is done is done by Mamata Banerjee".

PTI