Four cops suspended over false arrests in drug case

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: Four police personnel from Banashankari police station have been suspended for arresting two innocent individuals in a drug peddling case. The suspended officers are PSI Sridhar Gugri, ASI SK Raju, and constables Satish Bagali and Thimmanna Poojara. On August 9, the Banashankari police arrested two men who were allegedly involved in drug trafficking. The police recovered over 400 grams of drugs from a two-wheeler belonging to the accused, who were subsequently sent to judicial custody.

Following the arrests, the families of the accused lodged a complaint with the city police commissioner, alleging involvement of a police officer named Rajan in framing the accused. The complaint prompted DCP (South) Lokesh Bharamappa Jagalasar to direct Subramanyapura sub-division ACP Girish to investigate the matter. ACP Girish's investigation, completed on September 12, revealed that the arrests were based on false information and negligence by the police personnel.

It was found that Rajan, who had personal issues against the accused, conspired to implicate them by placing drugs on their two-wheeler with the help of his associate, Chaitra. Rajan then informed the police, leading to the arrests without proper verification. Rajan and Chaitra have been arrested for providing false information. The police are also looking into whether the suspended officers acted improperly in the case.