Vaishali : Senior officers in Bihar have ordered an inquiry after allegations that police personnel stole cash and jewellery during a raid on the home of a suspected thief in Vaishali district, prompting disciplinary action against local officers.
According to police officials, the incident occurred during a late-night operation at the Lalganj police station limits, where officers were searching the house of Ramprit Sahni, described by police as a habitual offender. The raid reportedly led to the recovery of cash and gold and silver ornaments.
Soon after the allegations surfaced, the superintendent of police (SP) in Vaishali ordered action against the officers involved. The station house officer (SHO) of Lalganj police station, Santosh Kumar, has been suspended, while a sub-inspector has been transferred to reserve duty. Another sub-inspector, Suman Jha, has also been moved to reserve lines, police sources said.
The investigation into the allegations has been assigned to Gopal Mandal, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO-02) of Sadar. Officials said the inquiry would examine whether items recovered during the raid were fully and accurately recorded in the seizure list.
The accused’s family has levelled serious charges against the police. Genalal, the brother of Ramprit Sahni, alleged that officers cordoned off the house during the raid and prevented family members from approaching. He claimed that while some items – including ammunition, cash and jewellery – were shown as seized, several kilograms of gold and silver and large sums of money were missing from the official record.
The family has also alleged that Sahni’s wife was taken away during the operation and said they had approached senior officials seeking action against the officers involved. Sahni, they said, is engaged in the fish trade.
In a statement, the SP said the allegations were damaging to the credibility of the police force and would be dealt with strictly. Officials indicated that arrests could follow if wrongdoing is established.
The case has sparked concern within administrative circles, particularly over claims involving large quantities of precious metals and cash. Police said further details would emerge after the completion of the inquiry.
