Two IG, DIG linked in cash-for-transfer scam: Investigators

Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch's probe into the alleged cash-for-transfer scam that it uncovered recently has revealed that at least two senior officers of Inspector General-Deputy Inspector General ranks were in touch with a few of the seven accused arrested in the case so far.

The questioning of the accused brought out the fact that at least 20 officers, mostly Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACPs), along with police inspectors and deputy commissioners, apart from the two senior officers, from across the state were allegedly vying for a transfer and posting to the city of their choice.

Following the May 31 raid at a star hotel near the airport. The unit VIII of crime branch had arrested General Manager of Mahananda -Vidyasagar Hirmukhe (47), Kishore Mali (38) from Pune, Vishal Ombale (40) and Ravindra Singh Yadav (51). Subsequently, they arrested Kamlesh Kanade, Ritesh Rakhunde alias Bhaiyyaji and Badanawaz Maner.

“In most of the cases, the officers were approached by the accused persons who projected themselves to have contacts in the higher echelons of state and central government. We are verifying the names and details of those that have come to the fore,” said a senior crime branch officer.

Questioning of the accused revealed of bank transactions of huge amount of money, which is now being investigated. “There were several transactions involving huge amount that were made from accounts of some of the accused. We are probing the money trail of these accounts,” added the officer.

Rakhunde, who is a real estate agent from Nagpur, projected himself to be close to the state chief minister.

He claimed to have clout in the government for getting transfers. Yadav was a former member of the censor board and his term had expired, however, he had made a fake identity card as a member and it also had a national emblem on it.