Four police constables posted at Tilhar police station have been suspended, and two of them arrested, after they allegedly extorted ₹2 lakh from a local jeweller in Jalalabad by threatening to implicate him in a fabricated narcotics trafficking case. Following the victim's complaint, Shahjahanpur Superintendent of Police Saurabh Dixit ordered immediate action against the accused personnel under the department's zero-tolerance policy toward indiscipline and unlawful conduct.
How the Alleged Extortion Began
According to the complaint filed by Sundaram Kshatriya, a jeweller from Kanoon Goyan, Jalalabad, he was returning home after closing his shop around 8 pm on September 4 when he received a phone call from someone claiming an urgent need for ₹10,000, expressing intent to pledge some jewellery. When Kshatriya reached Saraia Mor, he received another call, and shortly after, four constables in plain clothes arrived on two motorcycles. The personnel were later identified as Arun Chitoriya, Pankaj, Tushar, and Virendra Kumar, all attached to Tilhar police station.
The Alleged Setup
The four constables reportedly took the jeweller to an isolated, dark stretch of Bhatotewar Road, beyond Rajbhog Hotel, and conducted a search. During this, the personnel allegedly pulled a polythene packet from their own pockets and planted it on Kshatriya's motorcycle, then accused him of carrying contraband and threatened to frame him in a drug trafficking case.
Harassment and a Demanded Payoff
From there, the jeweller was reportedly taken to the Biriyaganj police outpost, where he says he was subjected to sustained pressure and harassment. Threatened with immediate imprisonment, the constables allegedly demanded ₹2 lakh to make the matter go away without formal charges. Fearing arrest, Kshatriya says he complied and handed over the money. After his release, he approached senior police authorities to report the extortion, presenting what he described as supporting evidence documenting the personnel's conduct.
Suspension, Arrests, and a Reported Escape
Taking immediate cognizance of the complaint, SP Saurabh Dixit registered a criminal case and ordered the suspension of all four constables. Two of them, Pankaj Kumar and Virendra Kumar, were formally arrested and held at Tilhar Kotwali police station for questioning by senior officials regarding how the alleged extortion scheme was carried out.
Local reports subsequently surfaced suggesting the detained constables were being treated with undue leniency at the Kotwali station, allegedly owing to internal departmental affiliations, rather than the standard containment protocol applied to other criminal suspects. Reportedly taking advantage of this laxity, one of the detained constables managed to deceive the personnel on duty and escape custody. The reported escape has drawn sharp scrutiny over departmental discipline and reinforced the administration's stated resolve to enforce accountability across all ranks, including within its own force.
What Investigators Are Examining Now
The ongoing investigation is focused heavily on digital and surveillance material submitted alongside the complaint. Kshatriya has stated he possesses audio recordings and relevant CCTV footage documenting the sequence of events. These materials are being analysed to establish the constables' movements, their presence on Bhatotewar Road, their conduct at the Biriyaganj outpost, and the actual transaction involving the extorted funds.
Investigators are examining these recordings to corroborate the allegations against all four accused, Arun Chitoriya, Pankaj, Tushar, and Virendra Kumar. Departmental authorities have reiterated the district administration's zero-tolerance stance toward police malpractice, whether it involves misconduct, social media misuse, or financial corruption, and confirmed that strict legal and departmental proceedings will continue against all four.
FAQs
Q1. What did the four constables allegedly do?
They allegedly planted a packet of contraband on a jeweller's motorcycle, threatened to frame him in a fabricated narcotics case, and extorted ₹2 lakh from him to avoid formal charges.
Q2. How many constables have been arrested so far?
Two, Pankaj Kumar and Virendra Kumar. All four constables involved have been suspended.
Q3. What happened after the arrests?
One of the detained constables reportedly escaped custody at Tilhar Kotwali police station, an incident that has drawn scrutiny over how the detained officers were being handled.
Q4. What evidence is the investigation currently relying on?
Audio recordings and CCTV footage submitted by the complainant, being analysed to corroborate the sequence of events and the personnel's alleged conduct.