Mystery over SO’s stolen car saga yet to be solved

KANPUR: The instance in which a police officer allegedly used a car that was stolen two years ago has brought forth more questions than answers.

Bithoor station officer Kaushalendra Pratap Singh said the vehicle, a Wagon R stolen from Barra, was found on December 14 in an abandoned state.

But he mentioned it in the general diary on December 30, 16 days after the incident. He is not able to explain the inordinate delay behind making a simple entry in general diary.

Singh is facing an investigation after the reports about him using the car as he never intimated the vehicle owner or the police station concerned about it.

Instead, the vehicle was sent for servicing to KTL Motors, which inadvertently called the real owner for servicing feedback.

The station officer has blamed two constables Vikas Baghel and Lalit Kumar for the alleged botch-up, which, he said, had shown in a poor light. Constable Lalit Kumar and another colleague Ram Naresh had recovered the vehicle and brought it to the police station, but they never intimated him (SO), Singh claimed.

Baghel used the car to ferry police personnel to the site of a brawl in Bharatpurva village where heavy reinforcement was needed. On the way back, the car developed a snag, he said.

“He (Baghel) was scared of facing action and took the car for servicing on his own,” the station officer said, adding he could not monitor happenings at the police station.

Baghel was not available for his comment but Lalit Kumar said he was officially on leave on December 14. Both the constables have been suspended on the SO’s report.

Circle officer, Kalyanpur, Ashok Kumar Singh, who is inquiring into this case, said many people had recorded their statements, including the SO.

The inquiry would be complete by Saturday and the report submitted to DIG/SSP Dr Preetinder Singh on Monday.

Resentment is brewing among constables after suspension of two of their colleagues. They demanded that CCTV footage of the police station should be examined to determine who was regularly using this car.