Thirty-two police officers in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh were deceived by a lawyer who falsely claimed ownership of the SSP’s bungalow. This fraud case went on for nearly two decades and now it has been revealed that this took place due to lack of diligence by law enforcement officials.
The controversy began in 2003 when advocate Sanjay Dhawan, claimed the ownership of the SSP bungalow after initiating a legal battle. Despite the bungalow being registered under IPS House in the Moradabad Municipal Corporation’s records, Dhawan managed to secure a court ruling in his favour.
The then Moradabad SSP Dr. GK Goswami began paying Dhawan a monthly rent of Rs 5,000 from 2005. This arrangement continued unabated as successive SSPs were appointed, with no officer questioning Dhawan’s claim or verifying the legitimacy of the documents.
The situation took a turn in 2019 when Dhawan demanded an increase in rent. When the then SSP, Hemraj Meena, refused to comply, the issue escalated to court. It was only then that the fraud was uncovered. But despite the revelation, the investigation has stalled for the past four months.
The bungalow, located in Awas Vikas Colony within the Civil Lines police station area, had previously been the residence of the SP of the Police Training Centre before being allocated to the SSP. The scandal highlights a severe lapse in oversight, as the police failed to verify Dhawan’s claims or scrutinise the documentation provided.
A case has been filed against Dhawan and two others at the Civil Lines police station. However, despite the gravity of the situation, progress in the investigation remains sluggish. The involvement of multiple officers and the prolonged nature of the fraud underscore a troubling failure in the system’s checks and balances.
As the investigation continues, questions are being raised about the accountability of the police officers who neglected their duties and failed to uncover the fraud earlier.
Comments
0 comment