Lucknow, UP

A police officer in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has been suspended after he was caught demanding five kilogrammes of potato as a bribe from a farmer. As it turns out the word "potato" was used as a code for the bribe. 

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The incident took place in the Kannauj district of the state where sub-inspector Ramkripal Singh, posted at the Bhawalpur Chapunna Chowki under the Saurikh police station demanded the bribe, which was recorded and the audio of the same has since gone viral on social media. 

In the viral audio, the farmer expresses his inability to fulfil the demand for 'five kg potatoes' made by the police officer and offers two kg instead.  

The police officer then gets angry and stresses his original demand. The final deal was then struck at three kg.

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"In the above case, SI Ramkripal has been suspended with immediate effect on 07.08.2024 by Superintendent of Police, Kannauj after being found guilty prima facie. He has been suspended with immediate effect. Departmental proceedings have been initiated."

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'Codeword'

It is unclear what exactly the alleged codeword 'potato' meant but social media sleuths believed it may have been referring to currency units. 

"By the way, what is the value of one kg potato, that he used as a Code? Was it Rs. 5000 or 5 lakhs?" asked one netizen, while another added: "Naah, could not be more than a thousand, right!"

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Kannauj SP Amit Kumar Anand announced Singh's suspension while Kamlesh Kumar, circle officer, City, Kannauj, has been assigned the charge to investigate the case.

(With inputs from agencies)