Uttarakhand Police Authority Recommends Action Against Officers in House Demolition Case
The Uttarakhand Police Complaints Authority (UPCA) has formally requested the state home department to initiate disciplinary proceedings against two senior police officers for their alleged involvement in the controversial demolition of a decorated naval officer's house in Dehradun. The case, which dates back to January 2022, has drawn significant attention due to the victim's distinguished background and the authority's strong recommendations.
Authority's Formal Recommendation and Investigation Findings
In a letter dated March 12, accessed by media sources, the five-member UPCA panel led by retired Justice NS Dhanik detailed its findings and called for action against former Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Janmajeya Khanduri and then-Station House Officer of Clement Town police station Narendra Gehlawat. The authority conducted a thorough probe based on a complaint filed by Kusum Kapoor, the wife of late naval officer VK Kapoor, whose nearly century-old house in Clement Town was demolished under suspicious circumstances.
The complaint was submitted on January 25, 2022, following an incident on January 12 where the house was razed by alleged land mafia using bulldozers. An FIR was registered on January 17 after the then-Director General of Police Ashok Kumar intervened, as local police had initially failed to act on Kapoor's complaint filed on January 13.
Details of the Demolition and Alleged Police Negligence
According to the UPCA investigation, the demolition occurred while Kusum Kapoor was away in Noida for medical treatment. The perpetrators reportedly tied up her tenant and a servant before destroying the property, which had been purchased by her husband in 1997. Additionally, valuables were stolen during the incident, compounding the family's loss.
A UPCA member, a retired Inspector General of the state police, revealed that the probe found both Khanduri and Gehlawat guilty of failing to prevent the demolition or take prompt legal measures. "They did not bother to visit the site of the demolition," the member stated, highlighting the officers' apparent negligence in handling the sensitive case involving a respected naval officer's family.
Current Status of Officers and Authority's Directives
Notably, Janmajeya Khanduri is currently on central deputation, while Narendra Gehlawat is attached to the office of the Inspector General of Garhwal. The UPCA has emphasized that its recommendation for disciplinary action is based on concrete evidence of dereliction of duty.
The authority has also directed the state government to provide updates on the actions taken in response to its recommendation. "We have asked the government to apprise the authority of the steps implemented following our findings," the UPCA member added, ensuring accountability in the process.
This case underscores ongoing concerns about police responsiveness and protection of citizens' property rights in Uttarakhand, particularly when influential individuals or groups are involved.
