Chennai: A special court has sentenced D Jayakumar, special sub-inspector (crime) of Washermenpet police station, to five years rigorous imprisonment for demanding and accepting a bribe from a conservancy worker.
In 2010, Jayakumar summoned GCC sanitary worker K Premkumar over a loan dispute and threatened to arrest him if he didn’t clear his dues. Fearing consequences, Premkumar paid 10,000, but his blank cheques and promissory note were not returned. In Jan 2011, Jayakumar demanded 1,500 to release the documents, warning that he would use the cheques to implicate Premkumar in fraud.
Premkumar reported the matter to the DVAC, which set a trap on Feb 4, 2011. That evening, Jayakumar took 1,500 near Mint bus stand and was caught. A chemical test confirmed tainted money, and 29,800 was seized from him.
Jayakumar denied the charges, claiming the money was for the lender. His defence alleged a vigilance officer manipulated Premkumar into filing a complaint and challenged admissibility of call records.
The court rejected these arguments, ruling that the prosecution proved demand, acceptance, and recovery of the bribe. Jayakumar was found guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment along with a 1 lakh fine.
Back in Dec, Adambakkam inspector P Soundararajan and later sub-inspector M Kalivselvi were jailed for bribery.