Police informer accuses Inspector Vinay Gaonkar of harassment and hafta collection

Police informer accuses Inspector Vinay Gaonkar of harassment and hafta collection

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, December 1, 2011 :Muneer Ahmed of Bunder told reporters at a press meet held on Nov 30 Wednesday that he has been working as an informer for Vinay Gaonkar, inspector of Bunder Police Station, for the past 14 months and that he had so far collected a total hafta of Rs. 38 lakh from illegal cattle transporters, scrap merchants, and those involved in adulterating diesel and petrol for Inspector Gaonkar. He also alleged that the inspector threatened to kill him in an encounter if he stopped collecting hafta.

Speaking about his association with the inspector, he said that the inspector had given him an Airtel sim card and had instructed him to use the number to inform him of criminal activities. When he showed reluctance to do so, the inspector threatened to book him on criminal charges, owing to which he gave in, he said.

Further, he said that the inspector got into the habit of collecting hafta from law-breakers and instructed him to collect hafta on his behalf. Every night, Gaonkar or one of the police personnel such as Jayanth, Rajesh, or writer Balakrishna visited his house to collect the money, he alleged.

He also accused the inspector of failing to help him when he was facing domestic problems. He said that he later got in touch with ACP Raveendra Gadadi, who told him to provide information regarding any illegal activities in the area. With the help of Muneer, Gadadi conducted raids and arrested several people, including three people from whom Gaonkar used to collect hafta.

He stated that an annoyed Gaonkar took him to the police station when Gadadi was out of station, physically tortured him, and forced him to make statements against Gadadi, which he captured on audio and video.

Muneer said that he then took his family to Bangalore in search of justice, after which he started getting threatening calls from a number. A week later, Gaonkar called him and said that he would give him Rs. 2 lakh if he came back home. He also threatened to put him in trouble if he did not accept this offer as no one can transfer him from the Bunder Police Station.

At the end of his statement, Muneer pleaded for protection from the Bunder police. His wife, speaking on the occasion, said that she had once tried to commit suicide because she could not bear the way the police were treating her family.

Muneer also stated that he has filed a writ petition in court and that the court has instructed the DG to conduct an investigation into the matter.

He said that the case is now under investigation and that he has also lodged complaints with the Lokayukta, the home minister, and the human rights commissioner.