3 Kovai cops suspended for fudging FIR

COIMBATORE: Three personnel of the Variety Hall Road Police Station here have been placed under suspension for allegedly manipulating a First Information Report (FIR) in a robbery case. City police commissioner TP Sundaramurthy, who cracked the whip on the trio — Inspector Parthiban, Special Sub-Inspector Manickam and constable Subramanian, said, “The three policemen were suspended after it was found that they had altered the offence committed by the accused in the FIR into a bailable offence.”The accused reportedly escaped while being taken to the hospital. Fearing action by higher authorities, the three policemen had altered the charge under which the accused was arrested, to a bailable offence to make it appear that he was released on bail, sources said.The Variety Hall Road police had arrested Selvakumar from Ambedkar Square, Arivozhi Nagar in Kovaipudur, in connection with the theft of a cellphone and cash from Balaji on March 8. He was booked under section 392 IPC (Punishment for robbery) r/w 397 IPC (Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt).Sources said the police took him to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) to obtain a medical certificate, before taking him to the magistrate. Special SI Manickam and constable Subramanian escorted him to CMCH. But, taking advantage of the crowd at CMCH, Selvakumar escaped.Fearing action by higher officials, Parthiban, Manickam and Subramanian manipulated the FIR. They altered the offence committed by Selvakumar in the FIR as a bailable offence under section 41 (II) of the CrPC, instead of the original non-bailable offence.