Hyderabad: The name of a top police officer who was part of the Chennai City Police had surfaced as being one of the abettors in kidnap, and extortion of a-city-based youth erasing the latter’s multi-crore fortune. The accused - Inspector General (IG) rank officer had served in Chennai City Police, handling Law & Order in the cadre post of Additional Commissioner, among others. Also, the officer had allegedly warned the techie-turned-entrepreneur of dire consequences if the complaint escalated elsewhere.
The victim - Rajesh who ran VRN Infosys, a BPO in Ambattur, had to shut shop due to the payment delay induced by his business provider and friend - Venkatesan who ran Sai Soft Infotech. As debts mounted, Venkatesan sold off his business arm and paid dues to the tune of Rs 2 crore to Rajesh. Venkatesan also gave out a soft-loan of Rs 5 crore to Rajesh which the latter invested in three properties in the outskirts of Chennai in 2016 besides extending to his friends and acquaintances.
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Three years later, Rajesh was taken to Thirumangalam Police station where he was told his friend Venkatesan had defrauded individuals to the tune of Rs 20 crore and the money trail led to him. The wave of kidnappings and extortions by the police began. Rajesh’s fiancee, his ailing mother, Venkatesan, and his wife, had to face the wrath of 'police'.
The uncharacteristic role of the senior khaki-clad officer seemed like that of a good samaritan when the first forcible property registration was halted at his behest. However, the officer later advised Rajesh to pay heed to the policemen and hand over the properties in lieu of the money which Venkatesan 'purportedly' owed. As his will withered by the third degree tortures, Rajesh gave power of attorney for one his properties to the person the then Additional Commissioner pointed out.
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With the hope of turning a new leaf, Rajesh moved to Coimbatore, and police caught up. They came knocking on the doors of Rajesh and his fiancée who had checked into a lodge, during the small hours on October 1, 2019. Held hostage in a farmhouse in Red Hills, Rajesh was told that his fiancée would be raped by every male member present in the kidnap party, her brother and his mother would be killed and he would be booked in a foisted narcotics case.
He eventually parted with all properties and the details of the persons to whom he had extended loans, a portion of which was later ‘collected’ by the police. The duo, Rajesh and Venkatesan, were made to sign hordes of stamp papers, pro bonds, and cheques, all blank. Rajesh, who had not revealed the role of the IG rank officer fearing repercussions until recently, had shotoff complaints to the top brass of the state police to include the IG’s role in the existing probe by the CBCID and render justice.
The present ruling DMK had also assured that it would take the DGP to task within the legal framework and it did. Will it have the political will to do so in this case as well? Also, it remains to be seen whether the CBCID, which acted swiftly in the sexual harassment case of the special DGP, would be able to keep its consistency.
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