3 Days Illegal Detention, ₹14 Lakh Jewellery Allegedly Looted By Police: Allahabad HC Orders Probe

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Superintendent of Police, Unnao, to conduct an inquiry into allegations that a man was illegally detained at Hasanganj Police Station for three days and that police personnel and another person looted jewellery worth Rs 14 lakh, cash, mobile phones and cartridges from him.

The bench of Justices Rajnish Kumar and Babita Rani was hearing a petition filed by Ram Kumar, who alleged that he was detained at Hasanganj Police Station in Unnao from July 27 to July 30, 2026, without any prosecution being initiated against him. The petition also made allegations of robbery against police personnel and another person.

What Did The Man Allege About His Detention At Hasanganj Police Station?

According to Kumar's counsel, the petitioner was kept at the police station for the three-day period without any prosecution being launched against him. He further alleged that police personnel and opposite party No. 7 looted jewellery worth Rs 14 lakh, besides Rs 35,000 cash, two mobile phones and approximately 15 cartridges.

Kumar therefore approached the high court and sought directions for the CCTV footage of Hasanganj Police Station covering the period from July 27 to July 30 to be preserved and produced before the court.

The bench recorded that the matter required consideration. It issued notice to opposite parties and gave the State three weeks to file its counter-affidavit, with a week thereafter for a rejoinder, if any.

What Has The Allahabad HC Ordered Regarding The CCTV Footage?

Court has directed the Superintendent of Police, Unnao, to conduct an inquiry into the allegations made in Kumar's petition.

Crucially, the SP has also been ordered to examine the CCTV footage of Hasanganj Police Station for the period between July 27 and July 30 and preserve the footage. The material is to be produced before the high court along with the counter-affidavit and the inquiry report.

Court also made clear that the inquiry cannot be merely procedural. It directed that “in case any incriminating material is found against any police personnel,” appropriate action should be taken against the erring personnel by the Superintendent of Police, Unnao.

Earlier also, the court has expressed concern over the preservation of CCTV footage from police stations. In a separate case involving a habeas corpus petition alleging illegal detention, the court had directed the Uttar Pradesh Home Secretary to explain why CCTV footage from a police station was not available, after the police cited a “technical glitch” for the failure to preserve it. Court had questioned the explanation and stressed the importance of preserving such footage in cases involving allegations against police personnel.

In another matter, the high court took a strong view of allegations concerning persons disappearing from police custody. In December 2025, while hearing a habeas corpus petition concerning a young man who had gone missing from a Basti police station in 2018, the court said, “This kind of disappearance from police custody cannot be tolerated” and held that responsibility could not be confined to a sub-inspector if custodial elimination was established. Court also observed that the then Superintendent of Police could not be spared from scrutiny.

Case Title: Ram Kumar vs. State Of U.P. Thru. Secy. Home Deptt. Lko. And Others

Order Date: August 25, 2026

Bench: Justices Babita Rani and Rajnish Kumar