A day after his son was arrested for allegedly consuming liquor at a party, senior Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia today claimed that police took a bribe of Rs 4 lakh to "settle the matter" and demanded a probe by ACB into the matter.
The state government handed over the investigation to city Crime Branch.
"The raid was conducted by a women PSI and two constables of Satellite Police Station with an intention to extract money. The PSI asked for Rs 11 lakh and then settled for Rs 4 lakh. I have an audio clip, in which, she can be heard saying that she accepted Rs 4 lakh," Modhwadia alleged in a press conference.
He alleged that police officials in western part of the city are running a "racket to extort money" from affluent people by conducting such raids at their residential premises.
"I demand that the entire case be probed by ACB, not by Crime Branch. Action must be taken against all officials who have ordered the raid and those who demanded the bribe," he said.
Police yesterday arrested Modhwadia's son, Parth and 24 others for allegedly consuming liquor at a birthday party in Satellite area of the city.
The former state Congress chief also demanded that blood samples of Parth and 24 others, taken at Sola civil hospital to determine weather he was drunk at the time of raid, should be sent outside Gujarat to ensure a "fair examination".
"Primary reports by doctors have shown that Parth was not under the influence of alcohol. Even though, he was shown as an accused and arrested. I demand that blood samples of Parth and others should be sent outside the state for examination," he said.
Manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited within the boundaries of Gujarat.
Yesterday's raid was conducted by PSI C B Jadeja and her staff, attached to Satellite police station, at Asawari tower near S G Highway during wee hours.
Modhwadia conceded that Parth was present at the party, but insisted that he did not consume liquor.
"Jadeja demanded Rs 11 lakh and then settled for Rs 4 lakh for letting go all women who were present at the party and to expedite bail procedure for those who were arrested," he claimed.
Police have already refuted Modhwadia's allegations and maintained that no bribe was demanded.
"The primary report by doctors is not final as we only
take into account the blood test report which is yet to come. Only that report can prove if someone had consumed liquor or not. If we wanted to settle the matter, then we would have let all of them go after taking money," Satellite police station Inspector M U Mashi had said yesterday.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Rajni Patel refused to conduct the examination of blood samples outside Gujarat.
"The primary report of Parth and others have come positive. It is a matter of introspection for Congress leaders, as on one side they create ruckus in the Assembly on the issue of prohibition, while on the other their family members are caught having liquor," the minister said.
Patel refused to hand over the probe to ACB as demanded by Modhwadia.
"We have asked the crime branch to probe the matter as it is also competent enough to probe such cases. There is no need to to send blood samples outside the state as the Gujarat Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) is well equipped and well-known in the country to carry out such examination," Patel said.
