The clerk had approached the widow of a GRP constable and sought a bribe to fast track her case; the victim approached GRP Commissioner Dr Ravinder Singal who got the corrupt official arrested
Taking personal action against corruption in the department, Government Railway Police Commissioner Dr Ravinder Singal got one of his staffers arrested after receiving a complaint.
Kavita Jadhav made the complaint against the accused and Kavita’s husband Vilas died in an accident at Vikhroli on October 30, 2013. He was on duty at the time of the accident
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The accused allegedly demanded a bribe from a widow whose late husband had been employed as a constable in the department. After orders from Commissioner Singal, the Pant Nagar police have registered an FIR against junior clerk Ravindra Chavan for extortion.
A departmental inquiry has also been initiated. Chavan had allegedly threatened the widow that she would not get the job she was entitled to after her husband’s death if she did not pay a bribe. Complainant Kavita Jadhav’s (27) husband Vilas died in an accident at Vikhroli on October 30, 2013.
Vilas (32) was on duty at the time of the accident. According to government rules, if a police official dies on duty, the next of kin is eligible for a job. Vilas had been posted at Kurla GRP. Kavita, a resident of the Ghatkopar police quarters, told mid-day, “I have two small children, and get Rs 5,500 per month as pension.
I am desperate for a job to bring up my kids. After I completed my HSC, which is the minimum requirement for a job, I applied on December 18, 2014. I submitted all my required documents.” Chavan visited her house after receiving the documents. Kavita said, “On March 31, Chavan came to my house and said that he was from the commissioner’s office.
He said my file was pending and would take several months and years for me to get a job. He asked for money so that he could keep my file at the top, so that I will get the job at the earliest.” Kavita then pleaded with Chavan. “I told him I have small kids, get R5,500 per month and cannot afford to pay him a single rupee.
He told me than I will have to wait long to get a job. I said I would wait, to which he replied that even if I get a job, he would see to it that I get a negative report and get suspended soon.” Kavita was shocked and didn’t know what to do. She said, “The job was my only hope and when Chavan said all this I went into a state of shock.
When I told Chavan that I would come to the CP’s office the next day, he told me not to come and not even mention that he had come to my house.” However, the next day, Kavita went to the CP’s office at Wadi Bunder and met Commissioner Singal, who promptly took action and ordered the Pant Nagar police to take action. The FIR was filed the next day.
GRP Commissioner Dr Ravinder Singal told mid-day, “Such harassment won’t be tolerated and prompt action will be taken. A tough message should be sent to police personnel that such things should not happen again.” Kavita said, “I am very satisfied by the action of CP sir; now I just want to get a job at the earliest as I have lot of responsibilities towards my kids.”
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