Three persons, including the personal gunman of Ballari Superintendent of Police Suman Pennekar, have been arrested for allegedly extorting a ₹3 lakh bribe from ration rice smugglers in Ballari, Karnataka, police confirmed on Friday, 8 May. The accused allegedly impersonated members of the SP's official squad to coerce payments from truck operators transporting rice illegally.

How the Extortion Unfolded

The arrested gunman, identified as Devaraj, was officially attached to SP Suman Pennekar. According to police, Devaraj and his associates intercepted two trucks carrying rice allegedly destined for illegal transportation to Andhra Pradesh. Posing as members of the SP's squad, the accused reportedly demanded a bribe of ₹5 lakh, threatening to seize the vehicles and send the transporters to jail if payment was refused. The accused allegedly settled for ₹3 lakh after negotiations.

How the Accused Was Caught

Devaraj's alleged extortion came to light after Sharabhayya, himself an alleged rice smuggler, filed a complaint at the Moka police station. Sharabhayya stated in his complaint that the accused had threatened to seize his lorries and jail him unless he paid the demanded sum. Following the complaint, SP Pennekar reportedly directed officials to arrest Devaraj without delay. The Moka police registered an FIR and launched a formal investigation, also recording Sharabhayya's statement regarding the gunman's role.

Context: Crackdown on Ration Rice Smuggling

The incident unfolded against the backdrop of an active special operation launched by the Ballari district police to curb illegal transportation of ration rice to Andhra Pradesh and other states. Hundreds of cases have reportedly already been registered under this crackdown. Preliminary investigation suggests that Devaraj allegedly exploited the ongoing operation — using the SP squad's name as cover — to extort money from those caught in the anti-smuggling net. This is the kind of secondary corruption that law enforcement crackdowns can inadvertently enable when oversight mechanisms are weak.

Impact on Karnataka Police

The arrest has caused significant embarrassment to the Karnataka Police, with a serving gunman of a senior officer now at the centre of an extortion case. SP Pennekar is said to be closely monitoring the investigation herself, a move seen as an attempt to demonstrate accountability. More details regarding the full extent of the alleged extortion ring are yet to emerge, and investigators have not ruled out further arrests.