Four police constables posted at Tilhar police station have been suspended and two of them arrested after they allegedly extorted two lakh rupees from a local jeweller in Jalalabad by threatening to implicate him in a false narcotics trafficking case. Following a complaint by the victim, Shahjahanpur Superintendent of Police Saurabh Dixit ordered immediate action against the accused personnel under the department’s zero tolerance policy toward indiscipline and unlawful activities.
According to the complaint lodged by Sundaram Kshatriya, a jeweller residing in Kanoon Goyan, Jalalabad, he was returning home after closing his shop at around 8 pm on September 4 when he received a phone call. The caller claimed an urgent need for ten thousand rupees and expressed an intention to pledge some jewellery. When Kshatriya reached Saraia Mor, he received another call on his mobile phone. Shortly afterward, four constables dressed in plain clothes arrived at the spot on two motorcycles. The personnel were later identified as Arun Chitoriya, Pankaj, Tushar, and Virendra Kumar, all attached to Tilhar police station.
Ambush and Threat of False Narcotics Recovery
The four constables allegedly took the jeweller to an isolated, dark stretch on Bhatotewar Road beyond Rajbhog Hotel and conducted a search. During this confrontation, the personnel pulled a polythene packet from their own pockets and placed it onto Kshatriya’s motorcycle. The constables then accused him of carrying contraband and threatened to frame him in a criminal case related to drug trafficking.
The victim was subsequently taken to the Biriyaganj police outpost, where he was subjected to harassment and sustained pressure. Threatening him with immediate imprisonment, the constables demanded two lakh rupees to settle the matter without formal charges. Fearing incarceration, Kshatriya complied with their demand and handed over the sum. Following his release, the jeweller approached senior police authorities to report the extortion, presenting claims of supporting evidence to substantiate the illegal conduct of the personnel involved.
Suspension, Arrests, and Talk of Custody Escape
Taking immediate cognizance of the matter, Superintendent of Police Saurabh Dixit registered a criminal case and ordered the suspension of all four constables. Two of the accused, Pankaj Kumar and Virendra Kumar, were formally arrested. Both arrested constables were kept at the Tilhar Kotwali police station for questioning by senior officials regarding the execution of the extortion scheme.
Local discussions and reports soon surfaced that the Kotwali police were treating the detained constables with undue leniency owing to departmental affiliations, avoiding the strict containment standard for criminal suspects. Taking advantage of this apparent laxity, one of the detained constables managed to deceive the personnel on duty and fled from custody at the police station. The reported escape has drawn sharp scrutiny over departmental discipline, reinforcing the administration’s resolve to enforce accountability across all ranks.
Audio Recordings and CCTV Footage Under Scrutiny
The ongoing probe has placed primary focus on digital and surveillance materials submitted in connection with the complaint. The complainant stated that he possesses audio recordings and relevant CCTV footage documenting the sequence of events. These materials are being analyzed to establish the movement of the four constables, their presence at Bhatotewar Road, their conduct at the Biriyaganj outpost, and the transaction involving the extorted funds.
Police investigators are assessing these recordings to corroborate the charges against Arun Chitoriya, Pankaj, Tushar, and Virendra Kumar. Departmental authorities reiterated that the district administration maintains a zero tolerance approach toward police malpractice, including complaints regarding misconduct, social media misuse, or financial corruption, ensuring that strict legal and departmental proceedings continue against all four accused personnel.
