In a major embarrassment for the Bihar Police, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Tirhut range has directed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against two police officers, including a Station House Officer (SHO), for serious procedural violations and alleged misappropriation of valuables seized during a raid last month.
Raid Uncovers Discrepancy in Seized Items
The controversy stems from a police raid conducted on December 30 at the residence of one Rampreet Sahni in Bilanpur village under the Lalganj police station area. The raid team, led by SHO Santosh Kumar and Sub-Inspector Sumanji Jha, acted on a specific tip-off.
Officially, the police documented the recovery of stolen items which included three televisions, two live cartridges, an empty bullet shell, and several copper and metal utensils. During the action, Sahni's wife was also taken into custody.
Investigation Reveals Shocking Omission
However, a subsequent confidential inquiry ordered by senior officers uncovered a startling discrepancy. It was revealed that the raiding party had also confiscated a significant amount of cash and precious metals from the premises, which were deliberately left out of the official seizure memo.
The unrecorded items included a massive sum of Rs 50 lakh in cash, approximately 2 kilograms of gold, and 6 kilograms of silver. Adding to the procedural failure, the police team did not conduct any videography of the seizure process, which is a standard protocol to ensure transparency.
Senior Officers Take Swift Action
The irregularities came to light when Lalganj Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Gopal Mandal received information about the incomplete seizure list. He promptly reported the matter to Vaishali Superintendent of Police (SP) Lalit Mohan Sharma.
SP Sharma immediately ordered an inquiry into the allegations. "The confidential inquiry revealed that despite the recovery, it was deliberately omitted from documents," stated SP Sharma. Finding the allegations to be true, he recommended strict action against the erring officers to the Tirhut range DIG, Chandan Kumar Kushwaha.
Taking cognizance of the serious lapse, DIG Kushwaha on Monday ordered the registration of an FIR against the two cops. He termed the incident as one that "brings shame to the uniform." Both officers, SHO Santosh Kumar and SI Sumanji Jha, were suspended on January 4 pending further investigation.
SI's Previous Controversy
This is not the first time SI Sumanji Jha has found himself in legal trouble. In a previous posting in Muzaffarpur back in 2024, he was caught red-handed by a vigilance bureau team while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 11,000. That corruption case is still sub-judice and pending in court.
The latest incident has raised serious questions about accountability and integrity within the police force. The registration of an FIR against serving officers for such grave charges underscores the administration's intent to address misconduct, but it also highlights systemic vulnerabilities that allow such acts to occur.
