A jewellery owner alleged that a special sub-inspector (SSI) received ₹6 lakh as bribe in a money dispute case and a video of the SSI allegedly receiving the bribe in the jewellery shop went viral.
N. Murali (45) of Hasthampatti runs a jewellery shop at Salem New Bus Stand. Three persons borrowed ₹1.21 crore from him and allegedly cheated him. He moved the court, which instructed the police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against the trio last year.
Based on the court order, Murali had gone to the City Police Commissioner’s office last year. But SSI Saravanan allegedly claimed he was the investigation officer for the case and made him run from pillar to post and did not register an FIR.
In a complaint lodged with the Commissioner’s office, Murali said the SSI allegedly conducted a ‘kangaroo court’ in the Deputy Commissioner’s office and got a signature from him stating that he accepted to receive ₹1.05 crore from accused and they would give the amount in a month. But after five months, the SSI and the accused showed a document that they needed ₹80 lakh to pay their loan in a bank and after that they were able to pay his loan amount. They gave a demand draft for ₹25 lakh.
Believing this, he arranged ₹80 lakh through his friend Sureshkumar in March 2025. The SSI allegedly received ₹6 lakh in three instalments. As the accused did not repay the amount, Murali approached the SSI, who allegedly threatened him, he added.
Murali also submitted the CCTV recordings of the SSI receiving bribes at the jewellery shop, along with his complaint. The video was also uploaded on social media and it went viral.
City Police Commissioner Praveen Kumar Abhinapu said the SSI had been placed under suspension and further inquiry was on.
Published – July 05, 2025 05:35 pm IST
