Mumbai: In a twisted irony, the Maharashtra state's stringent de-addiction policy sprang brazenly back in its face when 14 Navi Mumbai policemen were caught smuggling 500 bottles of alcohol from Goa. The cops, including an assistant inspector and two assistant sub-inspectors, have been placed under suspension pending further inquiry.
The incident happened on Wednesday night when the police team, on deputation with the Reserve Bank of India, were returning from the party capital after transporting an undisclosed amount of cash to the Panjim branch of the central bank, top sources from the government said. They had hired a private vehicle, in which they stashed 500 liquor bottles, little anticipating any interruption of their journey back from the official assignment.
But, acting on a tip-off, the Goa excise officials intercepted them, and found bottles of Royal Stag, McDowell's, and Imperial Blue among other liquor brands in the vehicle. The policemen were detained and the alcohol seized, sources said.
When word reached the state police, the embarrassment of the breach from within its ranks caught up with the higher echelons of the department. By midnight, Home Minister RR Patil asked Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Ahmed Javed to suspend the policemen immediately. Javed said, "The liquor has been recovered in the jurisdiction of Goa. They will be looking into the investigations. Since these policemen were attached to the Navi Mumbai police, we have taken action against them. All those involved in smuggling the liquor have been placed under suspension. A departmental inquiry has been initiated."
According to the Navi Mumbai police, the staff of 14 policemen was attached specially for RBI security. The policemen were responsible forproviding security cover for the transportation of cash from Navi Mumbai to Goa.
Bootlegging cops
API Shivaji Raut, APSI Balu Gosavi, APSI Suresh Wagh, Constables Rajaram Ubale, Vishwanath Biwale, Bharat Pawar, Rajesh Patil, Ashok Rabade, Ratnakar Wankhede, Annasaheb Pawar, G V Kadam, H B Shinde, V C Shinde and R V Vanjari.
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