Lucknow: Rogue cops raid house, rip off Rs 1.8 crore

LUCKNOW: Two sub-inspectors in uniform, two constables in civvies and their two aides raided the flat of a businessman, Ankit Agrahari, a dealer in coal and building material, in Omaxe Residency, Gosainganj on Saturday and showed recovery of only Rs 1.53 crore in cash while handing over Rs 1.85 crore to the informer who fled with it.

Agarhari called up a minister and informed him about the action. The minister called senior police officials who directed SSP Lucknow Kalanidhi Naithani to take action.

Naithani said that Madhukar Mishra, an informer, gave tip-off about eight persons in flat number 104 of Omaxe Residency having huge amount of cash and weapons to sub-inspector Pawan Mishra.

Pawan took along S-I Ashish Tiwari, two constables and two aides besides Mishra and raided the flat. They thrashed the guard and made him knock the door, took Agrahari hostage and thrashed his aides Sachin Katare, Ashvini Pandey, Kuldeep Yadav, Jitendra Tomar, Abhishek Singh, Abhishek Verma and Shubham Gupta. They took the cash and then called Ahimamau police outpost in charge Prem Shanker Pandey informing about recovery of only Rs 1.53 crore. Pandey informed Mohanlalganj CO RK Shukla and reached the spot. Madhukar fled with Rs 1.85 crore. Shukla called revenue Income Tax department informing about recovery of Rs 1.53 crore.

The I-T team sealed the cash and started probe. Agarhari told police that he had Rs 3.38 crore and Rs 1.85 crore was missing. "I sent ASP Rural Vikrant Vir to the spot. In CCTV footage, Madhukar was seen coming out with bags, putting them in a car and driving away. We registered a case of dacoity against Madhukar Mishra, SI Pawan Mishra, SI Ashish Tiwari, constables Anand Yadav and Pradeep Bhadauriya and two unidentified miscreants," the SSP said. I-T sleuths were yet to confirm the source of seized cash. SSP suspended the four cops who were arrested. Mishra is absconding while the two others are yet to be identified.