BENGALURU: For the first time ever in the state, an IPS officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the police sub-inspector recruitment scandal.
Amrit Paul, who was the head of the recruitment cell when the scandal broke out, apparently struck deals through Deputy Commissioner of Police Shantakumar, who has already been arrested, and a first division assistant and collected Rs 30 lakh each from 25 candidates and taken Rs 5 crore.
Public TV had broken the inside story five days ago. Amrit Paul was arrested after he was questioned four times. The Karnataka High Court had taken a grim view of the investigation and had asked the CID to submit a report on July 7.
During questioning, DCP Shantakumar had revealed Amrit Paul’s name and stated that it was not possible to open the strong room, where the OMR sheets were kept, without the ADGP’s knowledge.
Shantakumar had struck deals with the candidates for Rs 60 lakh each and had collected Rs 30-40 each from 25 candidates. The rest was to be paid after the results were announced. But three days later, the scandal broke out and Shanthakumar had promised to return the cash.
The CID had earlier recoverd Rs 1.5 crore in cash from another accused, Sridhar, in the case. So far, they have recovered Rs 2.2 crore.
Soon after his arrest, Amrit Paul was taken to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital for medical examination. He was later produced the ACCM-1 court which remanded him to police custody for 10 days.