Sambhal Fake Encounter: Court Orders FIR Against CO, 13 Policemen

A Sambhal court has ordered an FIR against 13 Uttar Pradesh Police personnel for a suspected fake encounter and wrongful implication in a robbery and vehicle theft case. The order highlights discrepancies between jail records and police chargesheets, directing a fresh investigation into potential conspiracy and misuses of official position.

In Sambhal, a court has ordered an FIR against 13 Uttar Pradesh Police personnel for an alleged fake encounter and wrongful implication of two youths in a robbery and vehicle theft case. Those named include the then circle officer, two inspectors, four sub-inspectors and several constables from Bahjoi police station.

The court noted a serious mismatch between police records and jail documents. “From the record, it emerged that on the day the robbery was shown to have taken place, the accused was lodged in the Budaun district jail in connection with another case.” Despite this, police investigators still sent a chargesheet in the robbery case.

Sambhal fake encounter FIR and Uttar Pradesh Police investigation details

According to the order by the chief judicial magistrate, “On the face of it, this indicates that some police personnel were involved in conspiracy, improper investigation, fabrication of documents, and misuse of official position.” The court relied on earlier Supreme Court and High Court rulings to emphasise that “public servants do not enjoy protection for unlawful acts". An FIR and fresh investigation were therefore considered necessary.

The judge directed the station house officer of Bahjoi to register a criminal case without delay and start a probe against all 13 officers. The SHO must file a preliminary report in the court within three days. The order emphasised that public servants are subject to law like ordinary citizens and cannot avoid scrutiny for alleged illegal acts.

Sambhal fake encounter FIR: robbery case timeline and key evidence

The controversy is linked to a robbery reported on 25 April 2022. Complainant Durvesh, from Arjunpur Juna village, said two unknown motorcycle-borne assailants looted one lakh rupees while Durvesh returned from Bahjoi after collecting milk payments. The incident time was recorded as about 1.10 pm on that date.

A case under Section 392 of the Indian Penal Code was registered the same afternoon at 2.40 pm as crime number 185/2022 at Bahjoi police station. Initial investigation was assigned by then SHO Pankaj Lwaniya to Sub-Inspector Prabodh Kumar. Later, the probe was transferred to then crime inspector Rahul Chauhan for further action.

Sambhal fake encounter FIR: data on custody, officers and allegations

Records from Budaun district jail show accused Dhirendra was in custody from 11 April 2022 to 12 May 2022 in another case. Dhirendra’s bail order was passed on 26 April 2022, but release took place only on 12 May 2022. These dates make Dhirendra’s presence at the alleged 25 April robbery statistically impossible.

Despite these custody details, police showed Dhirendra and another youth, Avmesh, as accused in the 25 April robbery and in the recovery of 19 allegedly stolen motorcycles. An accusation in court states that then CO Bahjoi Gopal Singh, then SHO Pankaj Lwaniya, Sub-Inspector Prabodh Kumar and Inspector Rahul Chauhan acted jointly with other staff to implicate both.

Sambhal fake encounter FIR: arrest operation and complainant’s version

The arrest narrative presented by police says Dhirendra and Avmesh were caught on 7 July 2022 after a reported encounter. The complainant in the current proceedings claims this encounter was staged. According to that claim, police framed both youths in the robbery and linked them with 19 motorcycle theft recoveries before sending them to judicial custody.

“Public servants do not enjoy protection for unlawful acts.” Citing this principle again, the court questioned why, when jail logs clearly contradicted the robbery timeline, investigating officers still filed a chargesheet on 12 July 2022. The court held that these circumstances raised strong suspicion of manipulation of records and misuse of official position.

Complainant Omveer, son of Bhagwan Das, alleged that officers misused their powers and prepared false recovery memos to show the two youths as habitual offenders. Omveer stated that representations were sent to senior police officials, but no departmental action followed. With no response from the hierarchy, Omveer approached the judiciary for redress.

The order also notes that then SHO Bahjoi, Pankaj Lwaniya, has since been promoted and posted as a circle officer. The fresh FIR will now require investigators to examine the role of each named officer, test the authenticity of the alleged encounter, and cross-check all related case documents, including vehicle recovery and seizure records.

The report about Sambhal emerges amid other recent incidents of alleged excess by law enforcement in Uttar Pradesh. In a separate case from Meerut, a police team was attacked by a group of locals, a police vehicle was damaged and three constables were injured. One constable was stripped, beaten and had a service pistol snatched before additional force rescued the trapped personnel.