Has a Former Police Officer in Bihar Been Found Guilty of Accepting Gifts from Mafia?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Vinod Kumar found guilty of accepting gifts from mafia.
- Departmental action is forthcoming against him.
- Violations of Bihar Government Servants’ Conduct Rules were confirmed.
- Presence of criminal elements at the farewell ceremony was noted.
- Public trust in the police is at stake.
Patna, Dec 20 (NationPress) Vinod Kumar, the former Station House Officer (SHO) of Bikram Police Station, has been adjudged guilty following an internal probe for accepting gifts during his farewell ceremony from individuals alleged to be associated with sand and liquor mafias, as well as others with criminal backgrounds.
Consequently, departmental action is imminent against him.
The issue emerged after a social media post claimed that while in his role as Bikram SHO, Vinod Kumar accepted gifts from individuals linked to liquor and sand mafias during his farewell.
Taking cognizance of the situation, Bhanu Pratap Singh, the City Superintendent of Police (West) in Patna, promptly ordered an inquiry.
The investigation was concluded within 24 hours, and the preliminary findings affirmed the allegations.
The investigation revealed that Vinod Kumar breached Rule 14 of the Bihar Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1976, which outlines the regulations regarding gift acceptance by government officials.
It was found that he neglected to secure the necessary permission for accepting gifts during the farewell.
Moreover, the inquiry indicated that he also violated Rule 15 of the same conduct rules, which mandates prior approval for organizing farewell ceremonies for officers in important positions such as SHO.
The farewell event was allegedly held without the required authorization.
Further investigations uncovered that individuals with criminal records attended the farewell, an issue deemed serious by the police.
Officials emphasized that such actions undermine community policing principles and erode public trust in the police force.
Based on these findings, Bhanu Pratap Singh has issued a show-cause notice to Vinod Kumar.
The gifts received during the event will be assessed and valued separately, and a recommendation for additional departmental action has been sent to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Patna.
The police department reiterated that accepting gifts, violating conduct rules, and associating with individuals of questionable backgrounds are serious offenses for any government official.
Such conduct not only breaches service regulations but also negatively impacts the reputation and integrity of the police administration.
This matter is now under the purview of the SSP, Patna, for appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with departmental guidelines.