IGP Wickramaratne is currently a senior official at the presidential secretariat

Sakvithi Weerakumara Ranasinghe was arrested by the police on Friday.

Police spokesman, Prishantha Jayakody told the BBC that the arrest was made after a tip off.

Mr. Ranasinghe is accused of swindling over 9000 million rupees in a fraudulent investment scam through his Sakvithi Group of Companies.

But questions have been raised whether the arrest itself is part of the cover up as an investigation carried out by DIG Chandana Wickramaratne has concluded that the alleged fraudster has had "close links with about 25 officers at the Mirihana police station."

Cover up?

The spokesman says that he is not aware of any action taken by the Police with regard to the details of illegal activities of some police officers as described in the report - dated 05 October 2008 with No. PA/DIG/APS/3062/08 - which was handed over to then IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne through senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka.

The fact that during the last Sinhala New Year, Sakvithi Ranasinghe had sent 25 bottles of Johnnie Walker Black Label whiskey to the Mirihana police through one of his managers, Nalaka Thushara Ranasinghe has now been revealed Internal police report

IGP Wickramaratne is currently a senior official at the presidential secretariat.

DIG Wickramaratne in his report says that Head of Nugegoda police division, Deshabandu Tennakoon, has on several occasions has had private talks with the suspects at his office.

"The fact that during the last Sinhala New Year, Sakvithi Ranasinghe had sent 25 bottles of Johnnie Walker Black Label whiskey to the Mirihana police through one of his managers, Nalaka Thushara Ranasinghe has now been revealed," the report said.

It says that at least 24 police officers have deposited money in the scam, including one Tennakoon who has deposited 1.2 million rupees, but adds that it was yet to be confirmed whether the said Tennakoon is a police officer.

	"Mirihana police was aware of the financial crisis faced by this institution about three to four months ago"

The report added: "It can now be seen that the Mirihana police was aware of the financial crisis faced by this institution about three to four months ago."

The internal report also said that the police has initially refused to record complaints against the suspect.

"Had complaints been recorded and investigated into properly, the fraud enacted by this institution and the plight of the customers would have been revealed to the country."

Ironically, it is the same police station that has arrested the suspect on Friday.

Police spokesman, SP Jayakody told BBC Sandedshaya that he does not know details of an investigation carried out before he assumed office.

The police spokesman said that he had no way of finding out what had happened to the investigation report provided by DIG Chandana Wickramaratne.