Vizag: Inspector held for extortion

Visakhapatnam police on Friday arrested Armed Reserve Inspector, Swarnalatha, two home guards Shyam Sundar aka Mehar, Srinu and another person named Suribabu following extortion allegations.

According to police, the inspector and her two assistants extorted Rs. 20 lakh from Suribabu. As the amount belonged to some navy employees, the victims approached the Commissioner of Visakhapatnam police Trivikram Varma for justice.

Enquiries revealed that two retired navy personnel Srinivas and Sridhar approached the middleman Suribabu for exchange of Rs.2,000 currency notes worth about Rs. 1 crore with Rs. 500 currency notes.

Suribabu approached the home guards Shyam Sundar and Srinu seeking their help in ensuring that the deal is completed smoothly. The inspector got wind of the deal through the home guards and caught hold of Suribabu along with Rs. 2,000 currency notes.

She threatened him with foisting a case and extorted Rs. 20 lakhs from Suribabu and let him go with the remaining money. The middleman refused to give Rs. 500 currency notes as agreed earlier to the retired navy personnel saying that inspector Swarnalatha took away Rs. 20 lakh.

Consequently, the retired navy personnel approached the Commissioner of Police. After preliminary inquiry, a criminal case has been registered against the inspector, home guards and other private persons.

However, allegations are doing rounds that some YSRCP leaders are trying to save the inspector from criminal proceedings and departmental action.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, Trivikram Varma said a detailed probe is on into the case. He said the government has given time till September to exchange Rs. 2,000 currency notes. He appealed to the people not to fall prey to middlemen in this connection.