Sainthamaruthu Police Inspector and Constable remanded over alleged Rs. 20,000 bribe

A Police Inspector and a Police Constable attached to the Sainthamaruthu Police Station have been remanded over allegations of soliciting and accepting a Rs. 20,000 bribe from a drug suspect.

The two officers were arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on August 17, 2026.

The first suspect, Police Inspector Balasubramaniyam Pragalathan, is accused of demanding the bribe from a suspect who had been arrested for possessing “Ice” (methamphetamine).

According to the allegations, the Police Inspector agreed not to report the full quantity of Ice found in the suspect’s possession to court under Section 54 of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

Instead, he allegedly agreed to report only 70 milligrams of heroin to the court, with the intention of helping the drug suspect receive a lesser punishment and allowing him to continue his activities in the future without difficulties.

The Rs. 20,000 bribe was allegedly obtained through the second suspect, Police Constable Hasan Maulana Athuhar, on the instructions of the Police Inspector.

CIABOC officers arrested Police Constable Athuhar at around 2:40 PM in front of Zahira College in Kalmunai.

Police Inspector Pragalathan was arrested later at around 4:05 PM inside the Periya Nilaveli Police Station.

Following their arrests, the two police officers were produced before the Kalmunai Magistrate’s Court and were remanded until August 28, 2026.