Allahabad High Court: SP to Probe Police Illegal Detention, ₹14 Lakh Theft

• The Allahabad High Court has ordered an inquiry into allegations of a man's three-day illegal detention at Hasanganj Police Station, Unnao, in July 2026.
• Petitioner Ram Kumar claims police personnel and another individual looted ₹14 lakh in jewellery, cash, mobile phones, and cartridges during his alleged detention.
• The court directed Superintendent of Police (SP) Jai Prakash Singh in Unnao to examine and preserve CCTV footage from the police station for the relevant period.
• The inquiry must be thorough and non-procedural, with appropriate action taken against any implicated police personnel.
• This order aligns with the High Court's prior emphasis on police accountability and the crucial role of CCTV footage in investigating illegal detention and misconduct.

The court underscored that if the inquiry uncovers any incriminating evidence against police personnel, the SP is obligated to take appropriate action against those found to be at fault.

Ram Kumar has brought serious allegations before the Allahabad High Court, claiming he was unlawfully held for three days at the Hasanganj Police Station in Unnao. According to his petition, filed before Justices Rajnish Kumar and Babita Rani, Kumar was detained from July 27 to July 30, 2026, without any formal charges or prosecution initiated against him. This alleged illegal detention forms the core of his complaint.

Beyond the unlawful custody, Kumar further asserts that during this period, police personnel, in conjunction with another individual, engaged in robbery. He claims that valuables amounting to a significant sum were taken from him. Specifically, the allegations detail the theft of jewellery valued at ₹14 lakh, ₹35,000 in cash, two mobile phones, and approximately 15 cartridges.

In response to these grave accusations, Kumar petitioned the High Court, seeking a directive for the preservation and production of CCTV footage from the Hasanganj Police Station covering the dates of his alleged detention. The court acknowledged the gravity of the matter, noting it required careful consideration. It subsequently issued notices to the opposing parties and granted the State three weeks to submit a counter-affidavit, with an additional week for any rejoinder.

The Allahabad High Court has issued a crucial directive, ordering Superintendent of Police (SP) Jai Prakash Singh in Unnao to conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegations of illegal detention and theft made by Ram Kumar. This `Allahabad HC probe police illegal detention` is not merely a procedural formality; the court explicitly stated that the investigation must not be superficial. The SP is mandated to examine all aspects of the complaint, ensuring a comprehensive review of the alleged `Unnao police misconduct probe`.

A key component of the court's order is the preservation and scrutiny of evidence. SP Jai Prakash Singh has been specifically instructed to examine the `Hasanganj Police Station CCTV footage` for the period between July 27 and July 30, 2026, and to ensure this footage is properly preserved. This material, along with the inquiry report and the State's counter-affidavit, must then be presented to the High Court. The court underscored that if the inquiry uncovers any incriminating evidence against police personnel, the SP is obligated to take appropriate action against those found to be at fault.

This directive from the Allahabad High Court reinforces its consistent stance on `police accountability Allahabad High Court` and the critical importance of preserving evidence, particularly in cases involving `illegal custody allegations India`. The court has previously expressed significant concern regarding the availability and integrity of CCTV footage from police stations. In a separate habeas corpus petition concerning alleged illegal detention, the court had questioned Uttar Pradesh Home Secretary Deepak Kumar after police cited a "technical glitch" for the absence of footage, emphasizing its vital role in such investigations.

The High Court has also taken a firm position on the more severe issue of individuals disappearing from police custody. In a December 2025 hearing for a habeas corpus petition related to a young man missing from a Basti police station since 2018, the court declared, "This kind of disappearance from police custody cannot be tolerated." It further clarified that responsibility for custodial elimination could not be limited to a sub-inspector, indicating that even the then Superintendent of Police would not be exempt from scrutiny. This ongoing scrutiny, including the current `₹14 lakh jewellery looted police` allegation in the `Ram Kumar vs State of U.P.` case, highlights the judiciary's commitment to ensuring justice and transparency within law enforcement.

Lawyers can leverage this Allahabad High Court order to compel police authorities to preserve crucial CCTV footage and conduct thorough, non-procedural inquiries into allegations of illegal detention and misconduct, thereby strengthening cases for victims of police abuse and ensuring accountability.

Source: Original reporting via legal news coverage.