Over the last five months, 13 officers of Mumbai’s Government Railway Police (GRP) have been suspended for extorting money from passengers. One senior inspector and a dozen constables were suspended after an effort to curb organised extortion was launched.
The group mainly targeted long-distance passengers carrying cash or valuables. Victims were stopped at baggage checkpoints at stations such as Bandra Terminus, Mumbai Central, Dadar, Borivali, Kurla, Kalyan, Thane, and Panvel.
As per reports, passengers were taken to GRP rooms that had no CCTV cameras. Inside, they were asked to prove ownership of their belongings. Several were threatened with jail or seizure of goods. Many ended up paying bribes out of fear.
As per a report by the Indian Express, the suspension was ordered by GRP Commissioner Rakesh Kalasagar. Last month, one victim was forced to hand over INR 30,000 out of the INR 31,000 he was carrying at Mumbai Central. After filing a complaint, three constables were arrested. They later managed to escape.
Sources suggest that such incidents happen mostly in spots where CCTV is missing. Passengers carrying cash or banned items like liquor are taken to hidden rooms.
A recent case involved two such “zero police” who extorted INR 10.30 lakh. The role of these fake volunteers has added another layer to the corruption. “Zero police” are unrecognised volunteers who pretend to act as policemen. They sometimes take payments or pass on information to real police.
The issue of police extortion first came to light in April 2016 when TV reports showed officers caught on camera taking money from passengers. After that, the GRP introduced rules for baggage checks. The rules required that inspections be carried out under observation and that the process be recorded.
Authorities have started making reforms like reshuffling staff. Activists have demanded stronger measures and have asked for body cameras for officers, better CCTV coverage, and strict dismissal of staff caught in such acts.
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