AGRA: In an unusual criminal ‘probe’ at a police station in UP, cops made suspects swear over ‘Ganga jal‘ that they weren’t involved in a theft case at the house of an ex-employee of Lucknow’s Army Medical Corps (AMC). Once done, they declared the suspects “innocent”.
Police ordered a fresh probe in the alleged theft case in Etah on Monday after a purported video of the incident triggered criticism and the woman complainant — unconvinced with the instant ‘ruling’ — raised the matter with senior police officers in Lucknow and Agra.
When queried, Rajkumar Singh, the SHO of Jaithara, where the incident happened, said, “I’m aware of Saturday’s incident. It shouldn’t have happened.
Victim criticises police over 10L theft probe
A detailed investigation in the case of theft is now on and action will be taken accordingly.”
In the video, cops can be seen asking the suspects in the thana compound to hold the “holy water” in their hands to prove their innocence, and then giving them a “clean chit”. Locals said over a dozen people, including cops, were present at the time and someone filmed the incident and uploaded it online, amusing users questioned the probe “method”.
Complainant, Saroj Mishra, 61, a resident of Barna under Jaithara limits in Etah district said: “Investigation officer called suspects – local villagers Vijaypal Pal Singh (58) and his son Ratnesh Prajapati (30)- to the police station, and they were asked to take Ganga jal in their hands if they were innocent, rather than conducting a serious probe. I’m not satisfied with what police have done in this case.”
Mishra, who had retired as a clerk from the AMC in Lucknow, has filed a formal complaint at the police station against the father-son duo. She added: “Jewellery worth Rs 10L and over Rs 1L cash were stolen from my house on May 18, 2023, and I’ve been struggling to get justice since then.”
