KANNUR: Three police officers have been suspended for taking bribes in connection with a ganja case. Kannur Rural IG Ashok Yadav suspended SHO CI ME Rajagopal, Principal SI PJ Jimmy and Grade SI Sarangadharan of the Pazhayangadi police station for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 through an intermediary to release the vehicle of the accused in the ganja case.

The action was taken following a preliminary investigation by the Payyannur DySP following information that intermediaries were working to release vehicles seized for sand smuggling and other crimes at the Pazhayangadi station, a coastal station in the Payyannur sub-division.

It was alleged that the intermediary had obtained Rs 60,000 and distributed Rs 30,000 to the CI and two other police officers. An investigation by the DySP revealed that a bribe had been paid through an intermediary in Taliparamba.