Top cop who conducted sting operation on Hasan Ali suspended

MUMBAI: Maharashtra government suspended a senior IPS officer, who allegedly carried out a " sting operation", while interrogating Pune-based stud farm owner Hasan Ali Khan, facing charges of huge money laundering and tax evasion.

The action was taken against Deputy Police Commissioner (Government Railway Police) Ashok Deshbhratar after preliminary inquiry by the CID concluded that the sting operation CD leaked to media was "doctored" and key references were edited to sensationalise the matter, a Home Ministry official told media here.

The CID report revealed the interrogation of Ali was taped using a spy cam and it is suspected that the IPS officer himself used the device, the official said.

While interrogating Ali in a fake passport case when he was arrested in 2008 in Mumbai, Deshbrathar had allegedly made a CD of the investigations in which senior Congress and NCP leaders were allegedly named as discussing the appointment of Mumbai Police Commissioner with the Pune businessman.

In the CD, Ali purportedly spoke about his proximity to Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil and other Congress and NCP leaders and claimed that the decision to appoint Hasan Gafoor as Mumbai Police Commissioner was taken during a meeting between him and certain leaders from the two parties.

Deshbhratar is currently on sick leave since March 17.