11 Bengaluru cops suspended for partying with drug peddlers

Bengaluru

In a shocking development, 11 police personnel, including an inspector, have been suspended for colluding with drug peddlers and facilitating the illegal sale of tablets in Bengaluru. The suspended officers are from Chamarajpet Police Station (seven) and J.J. Nagar Police Station (four). Chamarajpet Police Inspector T. Manjanna was suspended by Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, while Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Girish issued suspension orders for the remaining personnel. 

The list includes Chamarajpet Head Constables Ramesh Shivaraj and Shivraj, and Constables Madhusudan, Prasanna, Shankar and Anand, as well as J.J. Nagar Assistant Sub-Inspector Kumar, Head Constable Anand and Constable Basavagauda. The scandal came to light following a major drug bust in the city, in which drugs worth nearly ?5 crore were seized and two African nationals arrested. Investigations revealed that several officers were allegedly receiving between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh per month from peddlers in exchange for protection. 

Some were also accused of purchasing tablets at discounted rates of Rs 300–400 per pill and reselling them, while routing money through relatives’ accounts to avoid detection.The case emerged when five men – Salman, Nayaz Ullah, Nayaz Khan, and Taher Patel – were arrested for selling Tidal-100 tablets to college students. Police recovered 1,000 pills and, upon examining mobile phones, found audio recordings, financial transactions, and photographs showing officers socialising with peddlers.

A special inquiry team led by ACP Bharat Reddy confirmed systematic collusion, while a parallel investigation under DCP Chandan uncovered similar irregularities. Officials have stated that a departmental inquiry will be conducted to determine the full extent of the officers’ involvement and to decide on further action.  The incident has been described as a “black spot” in the government’s drive for a drug-free Bengaluru, raising urgent concerns about internal accountability and the integrity of law 
enforcement.