He has claimed that the allegations leveled against ASI Md. Abdul Momin of the Narcotics Control Department of accepting and demanding bribes during an anti-drug operation in Badalgachhi, Naogaon, are completely false, a planned and orchestrated conspiracy. Meanwhile, a search of documents has revealed that there are multiple drug cases against detained Sanjay Sarkar at the police station.
It is learnt that the Narcotics Control Department arrested two people, Sanjay Sarkar (or Sanjay Mandal) and Bikash Mandal, in a raid in Jagpara village of Mithapur union of Badalgachhi upazila on September 28. Later, the mobile court of the Upazila Executive Officer sentenced them to three months of imprisonment.
After this incident, Sanjay’s wife Smriti alleged that ASI Md. Abdul Momin took a bribe of 10 thousand taka from her during the operation and demanded another 40 thousand taka. She even claimed that the money was demanded by placing his hand on the head of the disabled child and making him swear. An audio phone conversation related to this also went viral on social media. However, it was not possible to independently confirm whether the person on the other end of the phone conversation was ASI Momin or not.
Calling the bribery allegations completely false and baseless, ASI Abdul Momin said, “This staged drama has been created to sabotage the operation and humiliate and frame me socially for not being able to protect the drug dealer. No financial transaction or bribery took place.” He further claimed that Sanjay is a known drug dealer and has about a dozen cases against him.
After checking the police station and police clearance/criminal record (PCPR) documents, it is seen that there are multiple regular cases and charge sheets against the arrested Sanjay Sarkar (father: deceased Bimal Sarkar, village: Jagpara) at Badalgachhi Police Station in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2022 under various sections including the Narcotics Control Act.
Naogaon District Narcotics Control Department Deputy Director Md. Alamgir Hossain said that they have not been officially informed about any allegations of bribery. However, the accused have been sentenced through a mobile court after the drive proved their drug use and involvement.
Badalgachhi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Israt Jahan Chhani said that the Narcotics Control Department team arrested the two in an intoxicated state and sentenced them through a mobile court based on evidence. However, she has no information about any financial transactions or bribery during the operation.