2 cops suspended after video of roadside extortion from motorists gets widely circulated

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Two police personnel attached to Umri police station in Nanded district were suspended on Tuesday after a widely circulated video purportedly showed them collecting money from motorists while on duty, prompting disciplinary action against the duo.The suspended personnel have been identified as police havaldar Sunil Gopalrao Kolbuddhe and police driver constable Mohammad Awez Mohammad Moiz. According to the suspension order issued by Nanded superintendent of police (SP) Nilabh Rohan, the two were on duty on June 23 on the Umri-Dharmabad road, travelling on an official police motorcycle, when they allegedly collected money directly from several vehicle owners.Confirming the action, Rohan said, “The video showed them doing something which is not expected from a police personnel. After an initial inquiry by an additional SP rank officer, they were suspended on Tuesday.”Police said the video surfaced on social media, drawing criticism and raising questions over the conduct of the personnel. Following the circulation of the footage, an initial inquiry was conducted by the additional superintendent of police, which prima facie found the conduct of the two policemen to be serious, objectionable and unbecoming of members of the police force.

The suspension order stated that the alleged actions had tarnished the image of the Nanded district police and amounted to misconduct while performing official duties. Based on the preliminary findings, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against both personnel.The suspension was ordered under the relevant provisions of the Mumbai Police Act, 1951, and the Maharashtra Police Rules, 1956. The order was issued on June 30 and came into effect on Tuesday.Police sources said the suspension is a temporary disciplinary measure pending further departmental inquiry into the allegations. The inquiry is expected to examine the authenticity of the viral video, identify the motorists involved and determine whether any illegal gratification was accepted by the suspended personnel.Senior officers maintained that the district police would take strict action against any personnel found indulging in misconduct and reiterated that such behaviour would not be tolerated as it undermines public confidence in the police force.