The problem of Truthfulness in public services.
Sub. :-- Urgent need to heed to the plight of Traffic Police whistleblower – Head Constable Mr Sunil B Toke of Goregaon Dindoshi Traffic Police Division who is on the verge of committing suicide due to harassment from superiors.
Dear Sirs,
This is to bring to your notice that this Traffic Constable (Head Constable – Mr Sunil B Toke, Buckle No. 24004, presently posted at Goregaon Dindoshi Traffic Division, Cell No. 7738006363) is under severe stress and is on the verge of committing suicide.
Since year 2014, Mr Toke has blown the whistle on the rot in his Traffic Police Department from the junior level till the senior-most level of officers. He has been constantly complaining about the exchange of money between law-violators and the traffic police, demands from senior officers to the junior officers as “cuts” from the bribes received and for retaining / transferring officers / constables within or outside a Department.
As per Mr Toke’s statement and complaint to his seniors, the corruption is perpetrated in the following manner :--
The Police Inspector of Dindoshi Traffic Police Department – Mr B G Shinde has three “cashiers” (euphemism for bribe collectors) - Head Constable Mr Dinkar Harale, Police Naik Mr Aralkar and Head Constable (In-charge) Mr Sunil Pawar.
These “cashiers” collect bribes from law-violators / favour seekers such as old and new vehicle showrooms, school buses, valet parking contractors, road repair contractors, water-supply tanker owners, mega exhibition centres (such as Goregaon exhibition centre), Malls, theatres, Hotels and Beer bars, private vehicle owners etc and the loot is passed on to the superiors after retaining a share from it.
Bribes are demanded by senior officers for transferring a junior employee to other suitable / lucrative department.
Mr Toke has audio-recordings of his colleagues and superiors which prove the nexus and exchange of corruption money and his complaints given to them. These have been mentioned by him to his superiors in writing on several occasions too. His written request to them to give him an appointment to explain this has either been turned down or not replied to at all. His RTI applications seeking action taken report on his complaints and request for appointments have gone unanswered for months together.
Till date Mr Toke has complained to the following existing or past traffic police officers and Police Commissioners :--
Ex - Mumbai Police Commissioner – Mr Rakesh Maria ;
Ex - Mumbai Police Commissioner – Mr Javed Ahmed ;
Present Mumbai Police Commissioner – Mr Dattatray Padsalgikar ;
Ex - Jt. Comm. Of Police (Traffic) – Mr B K Upadhyay ;
Addl. Comm. Of Police (Traffic) – Mr Khalid Kaisar ;
D.C.P. (Traffic) – Mr Pratap Dighavkar ;
Retd. A.C.P. (Traffic) – Mr Tandelkar ;
A.C.P. (Traffic) – Mr Shashikant Talegaonkar ;
D.C.P. (Traffic) – Mr Namdeo Chavan ;
Police Inspector (Traffic) – Mr B G Shinde ;
Director General of Police – Mr Pravin Dixit ;
Ex - Chief Secretary ;
Chief Minister – Mr Devendra Fadnavis.
Due to apathy of his superiors and other higher authorities, Mr Toke and his family members are under tremendous physical and mental stress. He has been isolated by his colleagues and superiors in the Traffic Police Department and is facing a virtual boycott. No one speaks to him nor socialize with him. When other colleagues have lunch together on duty, he has to sit separately in a corner and have his meal. As a result he is suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problem (he has had a stent placed too during a heart operation in the past).
Such isolation and vindictive action by his colleagues and superiors has pushed him to a corner and he is now contemplating committing suicide.
For a moment if we consider that senior officers and higher authorities are non-corrupt and have clean hands, then what prevents them from initiating an inquiry into the allegations and evidence provided by Mr Toke ? A namesake inquiry initiated earlier by his seniors (being investigated by ACP – Mr Arvind Sawant of Crime Branch) is dragging on and on since months together without any report / conclusion.
Haven’t these officers taken the oath of upholding the law without fear or favour ? Then why should such honest and upright Police officers like Mr Sunil B Toke have to face hardships, frustration and physical and mental agony pushing them to the brink of suicide ?
We urge you all to immediately look into the allegations leveled by Mr Toke against his colleagues and seniors and ensure that the culprits are brought to book at the earliest.
We hope you would take this matter very seriously before another officer loses his life thanks to apathy of his seniors and higher authorities to corruption in the Traffic Police Department.
Thanking you.
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