Kochi Police Officer Charged for Rs 26 Lakh Embezzlement

Kochi, Nov 20 (PTI) In a significant development, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has filed a case against a female police officer accused of embezzling Rs 26.12 lakh during her tenure at the Muvattupuzha Traffic Police Station. Earlier, Santhi Krishnan from Marady was apprehended by the Muvattupuzha police in connection with the same case of corruption. According to VACB officials, the accused's involvement in the corruption led to a Vigilance case being filed against Krishnan under the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with relevant sections of the IPC. The VACB Central Range Unit registered the case on November 13, as confirmed by the officials. Currently, the VACB plans to question Krishnan, who was employed as a writer at the Muvattupuzha traffic unit between 2015 and 2021. The FIR alleges that while serving as a writer, Krishnan tampered with government records, including the cash book, EV, RV, TR-5, and bank receipts, to misappropriate funds collected as fines in motor vehicle petty cases. The VACB FIR indicates that Krishnan deposited amounts that were lower than the actual fines imposed, leading to the embezzlement of Rs 26.12 lakh. After a police case was registered, Krishnan went into hiding and later sought anticipatory bail from the Kerala High Court. However, the court rejected her appeal, resulting in her arrest in August this year.