Chandigarh, January 6
Shock waves ran through the Haryana Police today as the news came about the naming of an Inspector General (IG) in a corruption case.

The flying squad of the Director-General of Police (DGP), Mr Nirmal Singh, had caught, allegedly red-handed, an ASI posted in Karnal district, Mr Ranbir Singh, while accepting Rs 85,000 as bribe from a police Inspector, Mr Isham Singh, who is posted as SHO of the Nissing Police Station, last night.

Mr Ranbir Singh had allegedly accepted the money on behalf of the IG, Rohtak range, Mr Sharad Kumar, in lieu of granting extension to Mr Isham Singh in service beyond the age of 55.

Earlier, Mr Isham Singh had given a written complaint to Mr Nirmal Singh that though his service record was good, he had been served a notice by Mr Sharad Kumar telling him that he would not be given extension in service. The complainant also alleged that ASI Raj Singh, who was posted in the traffic wing of the police in Rohtak, had approached him and had demanded Rs 1.50 lakh on behalf of the senior officer for getting him extension.

Mr Isham Singh also handed over recordings of his telephonic conversation with ASI Raj Singh and ASI Ranbir Singh in which Mr Sharad Kumar’s name was mentioned several times, to the DGP. In the recording, among other things, a man purported to be ASI Raj Singh claimed that the house of the IG in Delhi was under repair and the money was needed for that. The deal was struck for Rs 85,000, which was to be paid after the withdrawal of the notice. The man also gave minute-to-minute movement of his file to Mr Isham Singh. He also told the Inspector that his representation to the DGP had been held over in the IG’s office and he should give a fresh representation in the name of the IG so that the notice could be withdrawn.

Informed sources say the operation spread over a month. During this period the DSP, DGP’s Flying Squad, Mr Rajesh Duggal, accompanied Mr Isham Singh posing as his driver to meet ASI Raj Singh, who was calling the Inspector at various places as a matter of caution. Later the ASI allegedly told Mr Isham Singh to hand over the money to ASI Ranbir Singh, who “is our man”. ASI Raj Singh also claimed to be a trusted man of the senior officer.

ASI Ranbir Singh was caught last evening when he came to collect money from Mr Isham Singh.

The sources say when proceedings against him were on in the Nissing Police Station, ASI Raj Singh rang up there to inquire if any person had been caught while accepting a bribe of Rs 85,000. Mr Duggal, who received the call in the police station, told him that he was a constable and had not heard anything about the incident.

A police party was sent to Rohtak to arrest ASI Raj Singh, but he allegedly absconded.

A case under Sections 7,8,9,10,12 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 120-B(conspiracy) of the IPC has been registered at Nissing Police Station.

Mr Sharad Kumar denied the allegations. He said he was innocent and the truth would come out during the investigations.