Patna: The Bihar state government has promoted Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Amit Lodha to the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADG). Previously serving as Inspector General (IG) at the State Crime Records Bureau, Lodha’s elevation is effective retrospectively from the date his junior, Ratna Sanjay Katiyar, was promoted. He will assume the ADG role upon taking charge.
Background on Amit Lodha
Amit Lodha, an IPS officer from the 1998 batch, gained prominence for his crime-fighting efforts in Bihar. His tenure as Superintendent of Police in Nalanda district was particularly notable; he led operations that resulted in the capture of notorious criminals, earning him the moniker ‘super cop’. Lodha’s achievements have been recognized with several accolades, including the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry and the Internal Security Medal.
In 2018, Lodha authored ‘Bihar Diaries’, a book detailing his experiences in the police force. This memoir inspired the Netflix series ‘Khakee: The Bihar Chapter’, bringing his story to a wider audience.
Recent Controversies
Despite his commendable service, Lodha has faced legal challenges. In December 2022, he was suspended following allegations of corruption related to his association with the Netflix series. The Bihar government accused him of entering into a commercial agreement with the streaming platform without official approval, a violation of service conduct rules.
Further scrutiny arose when the Enforcement Directorate initiated an investigation into Lodha’s assets, probing potential discrepancies linked to his involvement with the series.
Additionally, the Patna High Court declined to dismiss a First Information Report (FIR) filed against him concerning a disproportionate assets case, directing the investigation to proceed.
