Arrest of intelligence officer raises concerns of ‘deeper rot’ among cops

The arrest of an intelligence officer by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Aug 8 has caused allegations of deeper corruption in the Gujarat police — more than the actual case, where an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) was arrested red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh. 

Claims are now being made of a criminal nexus involving both local intelligence branches (LIBs) and local crime branches (LCBs) in various districts.  At the heart of the controversy is the fact that ASI Bharatgiri Goswami had been in the same post for about 20 years — whereas, typically, police personnel are transferred every five years. 

This is important for multiple reasons.

District police in Gujarat have access to sensitive information. Personnel are in charge of providing police clearance certificates to the district’s residents both already abroad and also for those wishing to go abroad. They also track the movements of foreigners in the district, and oversee demobilized police personnel.  

Apart from crime-detection, the local crime branch (LCB) of the district police is also responsible for issuing permits for liquor and gambling. In addition, according to people close to the issue, LCB officials act in lieu of the Superintendent of Police, performing minor services — including extortion.

This theory is said to be bolstered by the fact that the ASI was the highest-ranking officer at the police station at the time of the ACB’s operation. 

“The inspector was transferred from the LCB to the LIB under a cloud of suspicion. The high amount (₹40 lakh) demanded as a bribe makes it likely that Goswami was operating in collusion with this inspector,” a high-ranking police official told Gujarat Samachar Digital, on the condition of anonymity. 

“This is not even the first time an LIB official has been arrested for corruption. ACB nabbed another one in Gandhinagar about four years ago. Yet, LIB staff remains unchanged. This does not happen in any other department,” this official added.   

The Superintendent of Police has the authority to transfer all personnel, from constables to ASIs at any time. Even the Range IG (Inspector-General) and the Anti-Terrorist Squad have to be informed only in case of transfers of inspectors and special operations group inspectors in the LCB. While there is no rule, most personnel are transferred at the time of elections, ideally every five years. 

“Yet, LIB and LCB employees have been sitting in the same position for years. This nexus is keeping skilled police constables, head constables and ASI level officers out of these departments,” the official also said.