<p>The High Court of Karnataka has directed the government advocate to take instructions regarding a payment made to a police constable through the PhonePe app in a case where petitioners accused policemen of extortion.</p>.<p>The petitioners said five policemen attached to the Hulimavu police station extorted Rs 15 lakh from them by threatening to file a case accusing them of stealing iron rods.</p>.<p>Petitioners Yarab, Mustaq Pasha, Afroz and Syed Baksh, all scrap metal dealers from Hoskote taluk, said a police inspector and four constables came to their shop on January 14, assaulted them and later demanded Rs 25 lakh to avoid the theft case.</p>.<p>The petitioners claim to have paid Rs 15 lakh on January 14 night and have filed a complaint in this regard with the higher authorities at the Bengaluru Rural police office on Miller’s Road. They also claimed that one of the constables, N Chandrashekhar, demanded more money and asked the first petitioner Yarab to transfer Rs 4,000 through PhonePe.</p>.<p>Justice P S Dinesh Kumar ordered a notice to the state government, superintendent of police, Bengaluru Rural district, and the Bengaluru City police commissioner.</p>.<p>“Call on 24.02.2021 to enable learned AGA (Additional Government Advocate) to complete his instructions to make a statement with regard to payment through PhonePe,” the court said.</p>
<p>The High Court of Karnataka has directed the government advocate to take instructions regarding a payment made to a police constable through the PhonePe app in a case where petitioners accused policemen of extortion.</p>.<p>The petitioners said five policemen attached to the Hulimavu police station extorted Rs 15 lakh from them by threatening to file a case accusing them of stealing iron rods.</p>.<p>Petitioners Yarab, Mustaq Pasha, Afroz and Syed Baksh, all scrap metal dealers from Hoskote taluk, said a police inspector and four constables came to their shop on January 14, assaulted them and later demanded Rs 25 lakh to avoid the theft case.</p>.<p>The petitioners claim to have paid Rs 15 lakh on January 14 night and have filed a complaint in this regard with the higher authorities at the Bengaluru Rural police office on Miller’s Road. They also claimed that one of the constables, N Chandrashekhar, demanded more money and asked the first petitioner Yarab to transfer Rs 4,000 through PhonePe.</p>.<p>Justice P S Dinesh Kumar ordered a notice to the state government, superintendent of police, Bengaluru Rural district, and the Bengaluru City police commissioner.</p>.<p>“Call on 24.02.2021 to enable learned AGA (Additional Government Advocate) to complete his instructions to make a statement with regard to payment through PhonePe,” the court said.</p>