'Encounter Fixing' Row: Jhansi SHO Who Allegedly Advised Criminal to 'Manage' BJP MLA Suspended, Inquiry Ordered

Lucknow, April 15: Hours after the audio clip of the purported deal between a Station House Officer in Jhansi district with a wanted criminal went viral, the Jhani SSP swing into action and suspended the accused personnel.

The SHO, identified as Sunit Kumar Singh, was posted at the Mauranipur police station. In the audio conversation with gangster Lekhraj Yadav -- charged in over 60 cases including abduction, robbery and murder -- Singh allegedly advised him to strike a deal with the local BJP leaders.

The SHO could be head in the audio clip warning Yadav against his possible encounter due to the number of cases pending against him. The only way to escape, the police official allegedly told him, is to either surrender or "manage" Babina MLA Rajiv Singh Parichha and BJP's district unit president Sanjay Dubey.

“I will advise you to manage Sanjay Dubey (BJP District President) and Rajiv Singh Parichha (Babina MLA) to get some relief. Or else anything can happen,” the SHO is heard saying in the purported audio clip.

"In the last 14 years, how many encounters have happened? But now there is a system... top officers, special forces and almost everybody from top to bottom is on it," Singh further said.

Parichha, while reacting to his name surfacing in the audio clip, claimed he has neither ever spoken to the accused SHO or the criminal involved. "I can't understand why my name is being used," he said, adding, "However, it shows how the fear of law has gripped the criminals."

UP Director General of Police O P Singh dismissed the charge of 'encounter fixing' levelled by the Opposition. He said the accused SHO has already been suspended. "An inquiry will bring out further details of the case," the top cop said while speaking to reporters.

Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party claims the purported audio clip brings to fore the modus operandi used by the BJP government to deal with criminals across the state. "The police officer is naming BJP leaders and asking a criminal to manage them. Is this how the Chief Minister aims to improve law and order in the state," questioned SP's Rajya Sabha MP Chandrapal Singh Yadav.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 15, 2018 06:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).