Haryana STF chief suspended for extortion

Panipat, March 17 : The Haryana government late Wednesday suspended Special Task Force (STF) chief Ashok Sheoran, who was arrested after being caught on camera trying to extort money from a jeweller here, an official said here.

"Sheoran's suspension order will come into effect from tomorrow (Thursday)," a government spokesperson said.

Sheoran and seven other STF members -- three assistant sub inspectors and four constables -- were arrested Monday. The seven are in police remand till March 20.

Earlier in the day, Sheoran, an additional superintendent of police, was produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Gagandeep Kaur, who sent him to police custody till March 21.

"We have managed to get the police remand of Sheoran. During the interrogation we will try to ascertain his involvement in this case of extortion. We will also verify his past record," investigating officer Rajinder Singh, who is also the district police chief, told IANS..

According to the jeweller, the STF men came to his shop in Panipat, 150 km from Chandigarh, March 11 and demanded Rs.10 lakh. The jeweller gave Rs.1 lakh to Head Constable Jagbir Singh and asked him to come later for the remaining amount.

The jeweller complained to the police, who set a trap. The handover was recorded by CCTV cameras in the shop.

The police were already investigating a complaint by a stockbroker who had claimed paying Rs.10 lakh to the STF team a few days back. When the stockbroker viewed the CCTV footage, he recognised the STF personnel as the men who had taken money from him.