Indian Policewoman ‘Accepted Bribe’ from accused Rapist

An Indian policewoman with Ahmedabad Police has been arrested for allegedly accepting a Rs. 20 Lakh (£21,000) bribe from an accused rapist.

She allegedly accepted the bribe from the businessman in exchange for not taking action against him. The accused rapist has two cases against him.

Police Sub-inspector (PSI) Shweta Jadeja was arrested on July 3, 2020, after the businessman approached officers and told them about the bribe.

He said that Jadeja had demanded Rs. 35 Lakh (£37,000) from him in exchange for not booking him under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act.

The PASA Act in Gujarat allows the police to detain the accused and send them to a prison away from their native district.

The businessman claimed that he has already paid Rs. 20 Lakh to Jadeja on February 3, 2020.

On July 4, 2020, Jadeja was presented before the court and sent to three-day police remand.

After it ends on July 7, the Indian policewoman will undergo a medical check-up before being presented in front of the magistrate again.

One senior police official said:

“We had originally demanded a seven-day remand. The accused officer has been sent to three-day remand for further investigation in the case.”

According to police, Kenal Shah is the managing director of GSP Crop Science Private Limited. He is facing two separate rape cases.

PSI Jadeja first took on the rape investigation against Shah in January 2020. It was reported that the alleged rape happened in 2019.

The second rape case was being investigated by Assistant Commissioner of Police Mini Josef.

According to the police case, Jadeja made threats against Shah through his brother Bhavesh Shah. She had initially demanded Rs. 35 Lakh in exchange for not applying the PASA Act against the accused.

The alleged bribe was then settled at Rs. 20 Lakh. In February and through an accountant, Shah allegedly paid Jadeja.

In the report, a third complaint was made against Shah after the initial amount was paid. A security guard at his office accused him of intimidation.

Following the third complaint, the Indian policewoman contacted Bhavesh and demanded an additional payment of Rs. 15 Lakh (£16,000).

The security officer’s complaint was not turned into an FIR.

Meanwhile, a case was registered against Jadeja after Shah approached the police. An FIR was lodged under sections seven and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

She was charged her for “public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act”.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Deepan Bhadran said:

“Now that we have received the remand of the accused officer from the court, we will try to trace and recover the alleged Rs 20 lakh amount she received in this case.”

At the present moment, the police have not yet recovered the bribe amount she allegedly accepted.