Kotwali OC among four police officials sued for extortion

Four police officials including an officer-in-charge in the capital have been sued on charges of extortion.

Mohammad Rahim, a businessman, filed the case with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Sufian Md Noman today, said court sources.

Kotwali Police Station OC Md Mizanur Rahman, sub-inspector Anisul Haque, and assistant sub-inspectors Khairul Islam and Shahidul Islam were made accused in the case.

Besides, Delowar Hossain, a police informant, and three unnamed were also made accused.

The magistrate recorded the complainant's statements and set December 3 to pass an order of the case's admission.

According to the case documents, around 8:00pm on October 12, the three unnamed accused stopped the complainant Rahim on the Chunkutia Bridge in South Keraniganj, saying they were members of Detective Branch of Police.

The trio said there was an arrest warrant against Rahim, took him to a nearby shop and searched him. Not finding anything on Rahim's person, the three men took him to Babu Bazar Bridge in the capital.

SI Anisul Islam, ASI Khairul Islam and Delowar were present there and they took out 650 yaba pills and said those were obtained from Rahim.

SI Anisul said the complainant would be made an accused in a drugs case if he did not give them Tk 2 lakh. Rahim handed over a gold chain and Tk 13,000 in cash.

Around 9:15 pm, Rahim was taken to Kotwali Police Station as he failed to pay the Tk 2 lakh. After contacting family members, Rahim gave the police an additional Tk 50,000.

OC Mizanur Rahman called Rahim around 11:40pm that night and said he had saved Rahim as he was made accused in a small case from which he could be released within a day or two.

Having not gotten the money they demanded, police sent Rahim to the court in a drugs case of 10 pieces of yaba pills. Rahim was released on bail on October 30, the case statement added.

The Daily Star could not reach OC Mizanur Rahman for comment despite several attempts.