SI held on bribe charges

MALDA, Sept. 10: The police have arrested an assistant sub-inspector of Bengal Excise Mr. M K Roy from the department's Sadar circle office today on bribe charges. A senior police officer and a deputy magistrate jointly seized Rs 2.46 lakh from the office room where some Excise department staff were allegedly distributing money among themselves collected from liquor shops in different areas. The matter came to light following complaints from media persons. The additional district magistrate (general) Mr PC Sit said the process of departmental inquiry has been started against the arrested Excise official.On receiving a bribe accusation against the Excise official, the ADM (general) asked the Excise department district chief to inquire into the matter. Senior officials of the Excise department, a deputy magistrate and a deputy superintendent of police went to the spot and found a bag with Rs 2.46 lakh in it. Though Mr M K Roy, who was responsible for the Samsi area in northern part of Malda district, was caught red handed seven others managed to escape. The senior officials checked the attendance register of the office and sought video footage from the media persons to identify the office staff member who have fled.It is learnt that eight persons including three liquor businessmen were in a room of the Excise department sadar circle office and were allegedly distributing booty collected through bribe from different liquor shops authorised by the Bengal Excise department. The district administrative officials have informed the matter to the Bengal Excise headquarters in Kolkata and a special inquiry team will be coming here tomorrow for further investigation. n sns