Internal inquiry absolves then SHO of connivance
JAIPUR: An internal investigation by the vigilance department has found that the then station house officer of Behror police station, Sugan Singh had no involvement in the escape gangster Vikram Gurjar alias Papla.
HT has accessed a copy of the inquiry report.
On September 6, 2019, in Bollywood st yle, t hree vehicles screeched to a halt outside Behror police station, 15 to 20 people armed with AK-47S jumped out firing nearly 40 rounds at the police station and walked away with Papla, who is still absconding.
After the incident, the Behror SHO was accused of taking money from Papla and his aides, acting cowardly, not informing the senior officials, administrative negligence and not strengthening security after detention of a most-wanted criminal.
Only one allegation -- not strengthening the security -- was found true and the rest were found to have no basis, according to the inquiry report..
“The investigation reveals that during night duty on September 5, SHO had informed another circle inspector of the nearby area and the duty officer of Behror police station, and had obtained the records of Papla from Haryana. He had also informed the senior police officer of the district about the catch. He had also counted the cash recovered from the possession of the accused in front of his subordinates and colleagues. Singh didn’t have any conversation with the colleagues of Papla, who had reached the police station for negotiations,” the report states.
The report added that the verbal and physical evidence prove that no monetary and financial dealing took place between the SHO and the aides of the dreaded gangster.
On the charges of cowardice behavior, the vigilance department found that around 10 to 15 armed men had launched firing on the police station and in reply the SHO fired three rounds on the attackers.
After that the accused targeted the SHO and bullet pierced the windows of the officer. When the accused tried to break the lock-up of the police station, Singh showed braveness and fired back from the holes of the window.
“Hence, the allegations of the cowardness on the SHO are not proved,” the report says.
On the charges of not maintaining needed vigilance, the investigation found that after obtaining records of Papla, a guard was deployed in front of the lock-up and security was beefed up at the main gates. The report also stated that Singh constantly updated his colleagues and his seniors. The seniors even appreciated the SHO for his vigil and arresting the dreaded gangster.
Director general of police Bhupendra Singh said, “Departmental investigation proves that the SHO didn’t connive with the accused.”
Reacting t o t he i nternal inquiry report, Singh said, “The investigation reveals neither did I connive with the accused nor did I take any money.”