Delhi police sub-inspector arrested for fraud denies charge

New Delhi: Sudhir Rathi, a Delhi police sub-inspector (SI) who was arrested along with three others for allegedly cheating a businessman to the tune of Rs 18 lakh on the pretext of helping him convert his old currency, on Tuesday demanded before a Delhi court, through his counsel, that the Call Details Record (CDR) of the investigation official (IO) should be preserved to check his location. Rathi also moved a bail application on which the court will hear argument on Wednesday.

He has already alleged that he beaten up during his interrogation. Pradeep Rana, who was appearing for Mr Rathi, moved the pleas before the court to preserve the CDR of the IO.

“The arrest of Rathi is highly dubious. He was physically assaulted by high-ranking police officials. Some deep-rooted conspiracy has been hatched by some senior police officials of Delhi police. We seek preservation and production of the postal communication established between SHO Kalyanpuri and DCP East District which will help demonstrate that sub inspector Rathi was illegally arrested on November 26,” reads the plea moved before the court.

The defence counsel has alleged that the SHO of Kalyanpuri, after the arrest of Rathi, had duly narrated the entire matter to his senior official of East Delhi, however, the investigation official illegally detained Rathi for one day during which efforts were made to falsely implicate him in the case. Rathi has also demanded preservation of CCTV footage of Kalyanpuri Police Station.

According to the prosecution, a case was registered with the West Delhi’s Tilak Nagar Police Station under section 420, 406 and 34 of the IPC on the complaint of one Saifuddin. He had alleged that he was introduced to one Shailendra who helped him in exchanging old currency. Shailendra told him that he knew a bank employee. On November 17, he was told to accompany Shailendra and his two alleged accomplices Monu and Payal to Mayur Vihar where the purported exchange was to take place but later he was told to meet them at Tilak Nagar metro station instead. Later they started avoiding the complainant after which he approached the police.

The police detained Shailendra, Payal and Monu. During the interrogation they revealed that on November 17 when they were on their way to exchange money along with Ranvijay, Ankur and Rohit, they were stopped by a Sub Inspector Rathi who claimed that he was confiscating the amount. Police found that Ranvijay and Rathi were old friends. Ranvijay had tipped off Rathi about the presence of cash in possession of Payal, and they staged seizure drama.

Later the police arrested Rohit, Ankur, Ranvijay trio the call center employees along with Rathi. The police is further probing the matter.