Disproportionate income of cops: who will bell the cat?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE :‘Police raid live bands, video game centres, recreation clubs, prostitution dens ; several arrests made, goods seized. ‘ Such news are common in our newspapers almost daily.
But what about the cops who conduct such raids on illegal dens ? What about the assets disproportionate to their incomes, which they own ? Who will conduct raids and seize them and who will punish them ? These questions definitely remain unanswered.
Today, the situation is such that majority of police personnel in the district, barring a few honest ones, have assets disproportionate to their income, right from head constables to senior officials.
There are some who have constructed houses and commercial complexes within just one or two years of their joining service. Still others have invested funds in finance and other businesses while some have opted for lending business too.
Definitely, all this cannot be done solely from the salary which the government provides them. Some officials have even raised houses costing Rs 10 to 20 lakh.
No one in our society, musters courage to question the source of income of these officials. It is now left for the Lokayukta police to conduct raids on the residences of corrupt officials. However, there seems to be a remote chance in this direction with the present Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, wiling away time merely in appeasing those at the helm of affairs instead of trying to wage a war against corruption. When this is the case, how can he instill confidence in district Lokayukta officials to conduct raids ?
The Bunder circle inspector Vinay Gaonkar who recently faced suspension is just one example. He who was a honest officer in the beginning, later resorted to ‘dealing’ in every case making enough money in the process, so say several.
To cite another instance, it has been just eight to nine years since Venkatesh Prasanna, the erstwhile Pandeshwar circle inspector who is now serving in Mulki, joined service. As per the report provided to a petitioner Prakash Bhat of Kodialbail by the SP as per the Karnataka Right to Information Act, the inspector owned assets worth Rs 29,14,328.There still remains several more years of service in the department to this officer and it may not be a surprise if his assets cross several crores, when he retires.
It is in this fashion that police personnel amass wealth with the passing of each day and it is only action against such corrupt officers, that may be an eye opener for others or else, corruption would spread its tentacles far and wide.