Kathmandu, September 16

At a time when several police officers are mired in controversy for their collusion with criminal groups, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has arrested nine cops while receiving bribe from sand traders.

The cops were arrested from different restaurants and eateries in Kathmandu yesterday during the coordinated sting operations carried out by the anti-graft body. The corrupt police personnel, who landed in jail, are assistant sub-inspectors Gopal Prasad Shrestha and Subash Dhungana; head constables Umesh Kumar Yadav, Aman Chaudhary and Deepal Bharati; and constables Mukesh Prasad Patel, Dipendra Kunwar, Mansingh Roka and Ratna Prasad Rijal, said the CIAA.

ASIs Shrestha and Dhungana stationed in Kandaghari-based Metropolitan Police Sector and Sano Thimi-based Metropolitan Police Circle were held with Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 bribe from Tinkune and Pepsicola, respectively.

Similarly, the CIAA team arrested head constables Yadav, Chaudhary and Bharati, and constables Patel, Kunwar, Roka and Rijal while taking Rs 5,000 bribe each.  The head constables and constables were posted at metropolitan police sectors in Kandaghari, Koteshwor and Sano Thimi.

Meanwhile, Nepal Police Headquarters has recalled Koteshwor police in-charge Inspector Raju Lama and Kandhaghari in-charge Hari Ojha for their failure to prevent bribery. They have been replaced by inspectors Alija Giri and Sudhir Rai, respectively.

The anti-graft body said the corrupt cops would be charge-sheeted at the Special Court seeking maximum punishment against them as per the Prevention of Corruption Act. CIAA Spokesperson Rameshwor Dangal said the cops had demanded bribe from the sand suppliers threatening to destroy their business.

On September 12, the CIAA had arrested sub-inspector Rambabu Prasad Yadav with Rs 5,000 bribe he received from a service-seeker in Area Police Office, Ramgopalpur, Mahottari. The same day, a deputy superintendent of police was arrested for forging his citizenship certificate to secure promotion to that post. DSP Ballav Bahadur Singh obtained another citizenship certificate from District Administration Office, Bajhang, by altering his date of birth to show him younger and get promotion to the post of DSP from inspector, according to the CIAA. He was to retire from Nepal Police one-and-a-half years ago as per the age limit.

The CIAA had arrested 10 police personnel with bribe money in three months (Baishakh-Ashadh) of 2075 BS. Of them, DSP Nabin Krishna Bhandari of Balaju-based Metropolitan Police Circle and Inspector Harihar Sunuwar of Gongabu-based Metropolitan Police Sector were held with Rs 500,000 and Rs 50,000 bribe.