LUCKNOW, Sept 9: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has sharply criticized the Uttar Pradesh Police, accusing it of turning law and order into a “joke” and alleging that the state administration’s approach involves torturing the innocent while protecting criminals.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Gandhi highlighted a recent incident in Raebareli where a public facility center operator, Ravi Chaurasia, was robbed of Rs 8 lakh. The assailants abandoned the stolen money on the roadside, where it was discovered by a businessman named Gaurav, also known as Deepu. Gandhi claimed that when Deepu attempted to hand over the money to the police, he was wrongfully detained.
Gandhi’s post detailed that Deepu, who had found the bag on August 20 and reported it to the local police station with a village representative, was arrested on August 26 under accusations of robbery. Despite local protests demanding his release, Deepu was initially charged and jailed.
“The police initially accused Deepu of robbery, although he was merely trying to do his duty as a good citizen,” Gandhi wrote. “It is clear that torturing the innocent and providing protection to criminals has become the fundamental approach of the Uttar Pradesh administration.”
Following significant public outcry and protests by villagers and local business owners, an investigation was launched. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sanjeev Kumar Sinha confirmed that Deepu was released on Saturday evening after the investigation found insufficient evidence linking him to the robbery.
“Due to lack of evidence, police have released Deepu,” Sinha stated.
Priyanka Gandhi’s post underscores growing concerns about the state’s law enforcement practices and the broader implications for governance and justice in Uttar Pradesh.
