CHANDIGARH: Three police personnel from Chandigarh have been suspended and arrested for allegedly sheltering suspects involved in a Rs 5.26-crore ATM fraud case.
The officials reportedly attempted to mislead the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police regarding the whereabouts of the accused, further deepening the controversy surrounding their actions.
The high-profile ATM fraud case, which took place in Baghpat, UP earlier this month, involved two employees of CMS company—Gaurav Tomar and Rocky Malik—who allegedly misappropriated cash during ATM refilling operations.
Following the filing of an FIR at Baraut police station on March 4, the accused, fearing strict action, fled to Chandigarh. A local intermediary, identified as Munish, assured them that surrendering to the Chandigarh Police could help them evade the stringent approach of the UP authorities.
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On Wednesday, the Chandigarh Police arrested three of its own personnel—Inspector Jasminder Singh, Head Constable Satish Kumar, and Senior Constable Samunder Singh—on charges of criminal conspiracy under Section 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Instead of following legal procedures, these officials, allegedly in collusion with Munish, falsely implicated the ATM fraud suspects in an Arms Act case.
According to sources, the FIR against Gaurav and Rocky was officially registered on March 24 yet the suspended officials had been in contact with them since March 23. When UP Police initially inquired about the suspects, the accused officers falsely stated that they were in custody for an eve-teasing complaint. However, later, an FIR under the Arms Act was fabricated against them.
Police documents indicate that on March 24, Chandigarh Police, acting on an alleged tip-off, arrested Rocky and Gaurav near Sector 56 A/B Road. They claimed to have recovered a country-made pistol from Gaurav and a live cartridge from Rocky. Despite efforts to find local witnesses to substantiate the case, no one was willing to testify.
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Past Allegations and Ongoing Investigation
Inspector Jasminder Singh, one of the arrested officers, had previously been accused of accepting bribes in exchange for releasing a visa agent in an Arms Act case. Senior officials had already warned him for allegedly favoring accused individuals in multiple cases.
Meanwhile, the Crime Branch is investigating the case, particularly focusing on the possibility of bribery playing a role in the officers’ actions. While no bribery amount has been recovered so far, investigators are keeping all possibilities open. Superintendent of Police (SP) Crime, Jasbir Singh, affirmed that if any bribery evidence emerges, it will be verified, and appropriate legal action will be taken.
This unfolding case has raised concerns about corruption within law enforcement and the manipulation of legal procedures, highlighting the need for stringent oversight and accountability measures in the police force.
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