The Uttar Pradesh government has reopened its investigation into a high-profile alleged fake police encounter that took place in Rampur in 2021, intensifying administrative scrutiny over former Superintendent of Police Shagun Gautam and several other police personnel. The fresh probe, ordered directly by the state government, marks a renewed effort to examine serious allegations that a local businessman was falsely implicated in a fabricated police operation involving the purported seizure of illicit liquor. The case dates back to April 6, 2021, when the Milak police claimed to have intercepted a truck carrying illicit liquor worth approximately 3.2 million rupees near Bhainsodi village in the Rampur district. Businessman Sanjeev Gupta was arrested in connection with the recovery and subsequently sent to jail before being released on bail.
Allegations of Fabricated Operation and Extortion
After securing his release, Gupta submitted a formal complaint to the Chief Minister, alleging that the entire enforcement action had been orchestrated at the direction of the then Superintendent of Police, Shagun Gautam. According to the complaint, Gupta claimed he was falsely implicated through a completely fabricated police encounter and was subsequently compelled to pay 1 million rupees as illegal gratification. He maintained that the police action was not a genuine anti-smuggling operation but a pre-planned conspiracy designed to ensure his false prosecution. A departmental inquiry conducted earlier by the then Deputy Inspector General of Moradabad reportedly uncovered serious discrepancies in the official police version of events. That initial inquiry concluded that the alleged encounter was not genuine and identified multiple procedural irregularities, prompting widespread demands for accountability and further action against the officers involved.
Fresh Investigation Directed from Lucknow
Following the decision of the state government to reopen the matter, the investigation has been officially entrusted to Inspector General Subhash Chandra Dubey of the Women and Child Security Organisation in Lucknow. As part of the renewed inquiry, the investigating officer summoned Sanjeev Gupta and his daughter to Lucknow on July 13 to formally record their statements. While Gupta was unable to appear due to health-related issues, his daughter appeared before the investigating officer to provide a detailed statement. She also submitted documentary and electronic evidence that the family claims supports their allegations against the senior police officials involved. The role of former Superintendent of Police Shagun Gautam, then Milak Station House Officer Anil Kumar, then Senior Sub-Inspector Brijesh Kumar, investigating officer Harendra Yadav, former Special Operations Group in-charge Virendra Kumar, and more than 30 other police personnel is now under close examination.
Electronic Evidence and Safety Concerns
Investigators are currently relying on several pieces of electronic evidence considered critical to establishing the actual sequence of events. Among the most significant items is CCTV footage that allegedly shows the businessman being taken away from his residence by the Special Operations Group in-charge at around 11:30 p.m. on the night preceding the reported police encounter. The investigation is also examining call detail records linked to a phone call made by Gupta’s daughter to the former Superintendent of Police’s personal mobile number, which investigators believe could help corroborate the timeline presented by the complainant. In a separate application submitted to the state government, Sanjeev Gupta has expressed serious concerns about his personal safety, claiming that his life is under threat and that the former Superintendent of Police’s promotion was kept on hold because of the case. Investigators are now reviewing all witness statements, departmental records, and electronic materials to prepare a comprehensive report for the state government.
