New Delhi: More than 100 officers and men of Delhi Police have come under departmental scanner this year for alleged irregularities while performing their duties.

Replying to a RTI application, Delhi Police has accepted that Departmental Enquiry (DE) was initiated against its 124 officers ranking Inspector and below in the first six months of this year.

Among them, 26 are inspectors including three women, 21 sub-inspectors and assistant sub inspectors, 27 head constables and 29 constables.

Official sources say that a number of senior officers like ACPs were also facing departmental probe for alleged dereliction of duties. But the exact number of such personnel was not revealed by the Department.

Most of the policemen facing DEs are field officers, the sources said.

A senior officer said action was being taken against the erring officers. "Administration is aware of all these things. We take necessary action after analysing individual cases," the officer said.

The punishment, if proven guilty, ranges from losing increment, demotion to even suspension, he said.

In 2007,as many as 192 personnel faced departmental enquiries for not performing their duties properly. It included 24 inspectors, 21 cases against sub inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors each, 27 head constables and 29 constables, the RTI reply said.

The number of DEs initiated in 2004 was 220 as against 216 in 2003. Figures stood highest in 2005 and 2006 with the number of DEs figuring 285 and 287 respectively, the RTI reply said.

The sources said most of them were accused of accepting gratification and bribe. Other reasons were refusing to join new postings or offices, he said.

Source : DNA