Bhilwara: A probationer IPS officer has been placed on Awaiting Posting Order (APO) after police found his role “suspicious” while probing an alleged extortion racket targeting garnet businessmen in Bhilwara’s Kotdi area.Kotdi police arrested four youths Sunday for allegedly threatening garnet businessmen and extorting money. During interrogation, the role of probationer IPS officer Madhav Upadhyay came under suspicion, prompting Bhilwara SP Dharmendra Singh to order an inquiry.On Monday, police headquarters issued an order placing Upadhyay on APO “citing administrative reasons” until further orders. During the APO period, he will serve at headquarters.Upadhyay denied the allegations. “The allegations levelled against me by the arrested youth were baseless,” he said, adding the person was “only providing him information as an informer.”Kotdi police station in-charge Mahavir Prasad Meena said Constable Arjun Ram reported on April 4 that some youths in his beat area were threatening garnet businessmen and carrying out illegal extortion. A case was registered and an investigation launched, following which Ajay Panchal, Nand Singh, Narayan Gurjar and Kalu Gurjar were arrested.SP Singh said four youths were arrested as soon as the extortion case came to light. He said whether Upadhyay’s role was suspicious “would become clear only after the investigation,” adding that the DOP placed him on APO on Monday.
