CANACONA: Following allegations from truckers accusing the police and RTO officials of harassment and high-handedness at the Polem check-post, some media persons on Wednesday night conducted a sting operation at the check-post and to their utter shock; they recovered Rs 1.06 lakh allegedly from the RTO booth locker, which was later attached under panchanama by the Canacona police.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State president Adv Amit Palekar also accompanied the media persons during their surprise visit.
Adv Palekar, who travelled in a truck entering the State from Karnataka to expose the wrongdoings, said he was told by the truckers that Polem check-post was the most expensive one for them.
“The truck driver told me that the bribe ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 1,500 and has to be paid to officials of all three departments,” he said.
Some officials fled from the spot after spotting the team, Palekar said thereby indicating the depth of the malaise.
Sandesh Telekar, another AAP leader lodged a complaint under the relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act with the Canacona police. But the police neither registered the complaint nor completed the investigations.
When contacted, Canacona PI Chandrakant Gawas said, “I have placed the facts before my seniors and I am awaiting their instructions.”
PI Gawas confirmed that an amount of Rs 1.06 lakh was attached under panchanama by the police.

