Former IPS officer and Azad Adhikar Sena national president Amitabh Thakur was arrested on Wednesday by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force while he was travelling from Lucknow to Delhi. Police said he was taken into custody for allegedly not cooperating with the investigation into a land allotment fraud case linked to Deoria. He was later produced before a court, which sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.
Arrest Linked to Deoria Industrial Plot Allotment Case
Thakur, a former IG, was arrested near the Sitapur–Maholi border and subsequently handed over to Deoria police, as the case originates from that district. The allegations pertain to the allotment of industrial plot B-2 at the District Industries Centre in Deoria, allegedly obtained through forged documents and misuse of official position.
The case was registered on September 12 at Lucknow’s Talkatora police station on a complaint by Sanjay Sharma, a resident of Talkatora Awas Vikas Colony. Thakur and his wife, activist Dr Nutan Thakur, were both named in the FIR.
Misuse of Position and Forged Documents Alleged
According to DCP West Vishwajeet Srivastava, the FIR states that while serving as SP Deoria, Thakur allegedly misused his authority to facilitate the allotment of the industrial plot to his wife. Nutan Thakur is accused of furnishing incorrect personal details, including wrong names and an address in Khaira, Sitamarhi district of Bihar, at the time of applying for the plot.
The allegations form the basis of the SIT probe ordered by the DCP, citing seriousness of the charges.
SIT Findings Led to Arrest
An SIT led by ACP Chowk Rajkumar Singh conducted an extensive inquiry, including verification of documents in Deoria, address authentication in Bihar and examination of witnesses. The DCP said the investigation yielded evidence supporting the allegations, following which Thakur was taken into custody on Tuesday night.
Sources said Deoria police questioned him for nearly an hour before conducting a medical examination at the police lines. He was then presented before the court under heavy security.
Police Searching for Co-Accused Nutan Thakur
Police said efforts are underway to trace co-accused Nutan Thakur, who is also facing allegations in the case. Her role is being examined on the basis of documents submitted during the plot allotment.
Wife Alleges Midnight Detention From Train
Nutan Thakur claimed that her husband was taken away from a train near Shahjahanpur by men in plain clothes around midnight while he was travelling to Delhi. She initially suspected him to have been abducted before Lucknow police informed her of the arrest. She termed the case a 26-year-old civil dispute being given a criminal colour.
Amitabh Thakur’s Background
A 1992-batch IPS officer, Amitabh Thakur began his career as SP Gorakhpur. He was compulsorily retired from service on March 23, 2021. Subsequently, he founded the Azad Adhikar Sena and became its national president. His wife, Dr Nutan Thakur, is known for her work as a social activist.
