Uttar Pradesh Police has once again found itself battling allegations of deep-rooted corruption within its ranks, as a senior officer stands accused of amassing wealth far beyond his official means.
In a major crackdown, DSP Rishikant Shukla — widely believed to be a close confidant of jailed Kanpur-based lawyer-turned-gangster Akhilesh Dubey — has been suspended after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) uncovered an estimated ₹92–100 crore worth of allegedly benami properties linked to him.
Officials believe the actual figure may climb further as more documents surface.
Massive Assets Unearthed Across Multiple Locations
The SIT found assets spread across 12 prime locations, including nearly a dozen commercial shops in Kanpur’s upscale Aryanagar locality.
Investigators suspect most of the assets were purchased using proxies — family members, associates, and third-party fronts — with Shukla allegedly using his influence and position to route transactions discreetly.
Initial inquiries revealed that Shukla’s PAN card was repeatedly used in transactions involving luxury real estate and commercial properties far exceeding his known income as a police officer.
Officials say the suspicious wealth trail primarily spans his tenure in Kanpur between 1998 and 2009, during which he reportedly built a powerful network within policing and real-estate circles.
Criminal Nexus and Influence Network
Sources confirm that Shukla’s long association with Akhilesh Dubey, a notorious Kanpur advocate now in jail for extortion, land grabbing, and filing fake legal cases, played a key role in his meteoric rise in wealth and influence.
Dubey allegedly operated a criminal syndicate that weaponized the legal system, and investigators believe Shukla offered illegal protection to the racket in exchange for financial kickbacks and property stakes.
Another police inspector suspected of being part of Dubey’s network was arrested earlier, hinting at a wider police-crime nexus.
Action Taken — Vigilance Probe Ordered
Shukla, who has served at ranks ranging from Sub-Inspector to Circle Officer, was posted as Circle Officer, Bhogaon (Mainpuri) at the time of suspension. Following the SIT findings, the state Vigilance Establishment has launched a full-fledged inquiry.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Ashutosh Kumar confirmed that a detailed dossier prepared by former Kanpur Police Commissioner Akhil Kumar prompted the move.
The report highlighted suspicious financial activities, suspected extortion links, and irregular property transactions.
The Home Department has forwarded the case to the DGP Headquarters and issued directives to proceed with strict departmental action and criminal scrutiny if charges are proven.
A Blow to Police Credibility — Systemic Reforms Needed
This case once again raises troubling questions about corruption inside law-enforcement agencies — especially officers who spend long postings in influential urban pockets like Kanpur. It reinforces the need for:
- Regular lifestyle audits of senior police officials
- Limits on extended posting in one district
- Closer surveillance of officers’ suspected criminal associations
- Transparent asset disclosures
Public trust hinges on accountability, and cases like Shukla’s highlight why vigilance mechanisms must remain strong and uncompromising.
The probe is ongoing — and if findings are confirmed, this suspension may just be the start of a broader clean-up drive in Uttar Pradesh’s policing apparatus.
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