Allahabad HC Orders SP Unnao to Inquire Into Alleged Illegal Detention and Looting at Hasanganj Police Station
A Division Bench at Lucknow directed the Superintendent of Police, Unnao, to probe claims of illegal detention and theft of jewellery, cash, and mobiles by police personnel, while also ordering preservation of CCTV footage from the police station.
The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow Bench has directed the Superintendent of Police, Unnao, to conduct a formal inquiry into allegations that petitioner Ram Kumar was illegally detained at Police Station Hasanganj, District Unnao, for four days — from 27 July 2026 to 30 July 2026 — without any criminal prosecution being initiated against him. The Division Bench of Justice Rajnish Kumar and Justice Mrs. Babita Rani, taking up Criminal Misc. Writ Petition No. 8566 of 2026, recorded that the matter required consideration and issued immediate directions on 25 August 2026. The court also required the SP Unnao to examine and preserve CCTV footage of the police station for the period of the alleged detention and to produce it along with the counter-affidavit and an inquiry report.
Allegations Before the Court
Counsel for the petitioner, Shri O.P. Tiwari, placed the following case before the bench. Ram Kumar was allegedly held at Police Station Hasanganj, Unnao, from 27 July 2026 to 30 July 2026 without any case being registered against him and without any lawful authority. During this period, it was alleged that police personnel and opposite party no. 7 looted jewellery worth Rs. 14 lakhs, cash of Rs. 35,000, two mobile phones, and approximately 15 cartridges from the petitioner.
Given the nature of the allegations and the absence of any prosecution, the petitioner approached the High Court by way of a criminal miscellaneous writ petition. Counsel specifically requested that opposite parties no. 1 and 2 be directed to preserve the CCTV footage of Police Station Hasanganj for the relevant four-day period and produce it before the court.
The Court's Reasoning
The bench found the matter required consideration at the threshold itself. Allegations of illegal detention without prosecution, combined with specific claims of looting of valuables by police personnel, warranted immediate interim steps rather than waiting for the usual course of pleadings to complete.
The court's direction to the SP Unnao to personally examine the CCTV footage reflects concern that the footage, if not preserved at once, could be lost or tampered with before the matter reaches its next hearing. Placing the inquiry obligation on the SP — a senior supervisory officer — rather than leaving it to the police station itself is consistent with the nature of allegations that directly implicate station-level personnel.
The bench went on to state that if any incriminating material is found against any police personnel during the inquiry, the SP Unnao shall take appropriate action against such erring personnel. This direction made the inquiry operative rather than merely recommendatory.
Notices and Pleading Schedule
The court issued notice to opposite parties no. 6 and 7, with steps to be completed within one week. The learned Additional Government Advocate, appearing for the State, sought and was granted three weeks to file a counter-affidavit. The petitioner may file a rejoinder-affidavit within one week thereafter. The court directed that the counter-affidavit be filed along with an affidavit of the SP Unnao annexing the inquiry report and the CCTV footage.
Order
The Superintendent of Police, Unnao, is directed to conduct an inquiry into the allegations in the petition, examine and preserve the CCTV footage of Police Station Hasanganj for the period 27 July 2026 to 30 July 2026, and produce the footage before the court along with the counter-affidavit and inquiry report. If the inquiry reveals incriminating material against any police personnel, the SP Unnao shall take appropriate action against the persons concerned. The matter will be listed after the pleadings are complete.