HC grants bail to former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur

Allahabad HC
Image Courtesy:livelaw.in

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has granted bail to former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur in the alleged suicide case of a rape victim, stated news reports. The IPS officer was arrested on August 27, 2021, after he was accused by a rape victim who died by suicide, of allegedly protecting the rape accused, BSP MP Atul Rai. He was arrested after an FIR was lodged at the Hazratganj police station by the Lucknow police.

The police has forcibly taken @Amitabhthakur without any justification/ providing reasons to the Hazratganj police station.@Uppolice @dgpup pic.twitter.com/P0AlihDpfn
— AmitabhThakur (@Amitabhthakur) August 27, 2021

On Monday, a single-judge bench of Justice Rajeev Singh granted him bail, stating, “Let applicant Amitabh Thakur be released on bail in FIR no. 309 of 2021, under Sections 120-B, 167, 195-A, 218, 306, 504, 506 of the IPC, police station Hazratganj, district Lucknow, on his furnishing personal bond of ₹20,000 and two reliable sureties each of the like amount.”

According to the news report, the court imposed certain conditions on Thakur such as, “Applicant will not try to influence the witnesses or tamper with the evidence of the case or otherwise misuse the liberty of bail,” adding “Applicant will fully cooperate in expeditious disposal of the case and shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when witnesses are present in the court. The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (a) opening of the case, (b) framing of charge; and (c) recording of statement under Section 313 CrPC.”

Advocate Nadeem Murtaza, who appeared on behalf of Thakur told the media that while the court granted bail to Amitabh Thakur on Monday, the hearing was completed earlier and the court delivered the judgment today (Monday).”

The case pertains to a rape victim’s FIR at the Lanka police station, Varanasi, against the accused, BSP MP Atul Rai, that was widely reported. The victim had also written to the SSP (Varanasi), accusing Amitabh Thakur of “creating false evidence in the case to save Atul Rai”. As reported by Hindustan Times, the victim and her male friend had accused Thakur and others of helping Atul Rai, on Facebook live session, before the Supreme Court, New Delhi, on August 16, 2021. The victim and her friend then immolated themselves. The man died on August 21 and the woman victim succumbed on August 24. The Facebook live session was considered to be the victim’s dying declaration.

On March 23, 2021, Amitabh Thakur was given compulsory retirement by the union Home Ministry. He was then an Inspector General and was posted as the Joint Director Civil Defence. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered immediate voluntary retirement of 1992 batch-IPS officer Amitabh Thakur, and three others. A notice was issued to the IPS officer by the Uttar Pradesh Home Department which said that Thakur was “not suitable” to continue his services as a public servant.

Thakur, an officer of the 1992 batch who was to retire in June 2028, had himself announced that he had been retired, and shared a copy of the orders issued by the government.