Tainted Odisha Cop Sacked For Drug Peddling

Bhubaneswar: A constable of the Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar was sacked after a detailed probe into allegations of drug peddling against him on Thursday.

The accused cop, Janaki Ballabha Bharimalla, was arrested by Nayapalli police on November 13 while selling brown sugar at Behera Sahi here in plainclothes. His arrest came against the backdrop of rampant drug peddling in the Odisha capital and the murder of a youth at Sarakantara under Khandagiri police limits on November 7 for raising his voice against drugs trade in his locality.

According to police sources, preliminary investigations revealed that Bharimalla used to lead a lavish lifestyle. His picture of riding a high-end motorcycle too had gone viral on social media.

The tainted constable was involved in criminal activities, including alleged  abduction, murder, assault and theft, in the past.

In 2005, the Capital police had arrested him in connection with an abduction and murder case. However, he was later acquitted due to lack of evidence following which he re-joined the service.

He was subsequently posted in Khurda district between 2008 and 2018.  In 2011, he was again in news for assaulting a man. He is facing trial in this case, the sources added.