Lucknow police arrested IPS Amitabh Thakur, a retired IPS officer and whistleblower, on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Authorities detained him around 2 a.m. at Shahjahanpur Junction while he traveled from Lucknow to New Delhi by train. Subsequently, officers produced him before a Deoria court, where he received 14 days of judicial custody.
Case Background
The case dates back to 1999 when Thakur served as Superintendent of Police in Deoria district. Police allege he misused his official position to fraudulently obtain an industrial plot for his wife, Nutan Thakur, using forged documents.
| Key Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Arrest Date | December 10, 2025 |
| Arrest Location | Shahjahanpur Junction |
| Case Filed | September 12, 2025 |
| FIR Number | Crime No. 1021/25 |
| Court Custody | 14 days judicial custody |
The Allegations
Complainant Sanjay Sharma, a social worker from Lucknow’s Rajajipuram, filed the complaint in September. He alleged that Nutan Thakur obtained Industrial Plot No. B-2 at the District Industries Centre in Deoria using a fake identity. Moreover, she allegedly used the name “Nootan Devi” with a forged husband’s name and false Bihar address.
Furthermore, police claim the couple later sold the plot using their real identities. This allegedly kept government agencies, banks, and other stakeholders unaware for over two decades.
Investigation Process
The Lucknow Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. Additionally, DCP Vishwajeet Srivastava confirmed the team collected documentary evidence from Deoria. They also verified the alleged false identities in Bihar and examined official records.
“The SIT found the allegation to be true. Therefore, we arrested him and took him to Deoria to be produced before a court,” Srivastava explained.
Whistleblower Background
Thakur, a 1992-batch IPS officer, graduated from IIT Kanpur with an engineering degree. Throughout his career, he exposed corruption under successive governments in Uttar Pradesh. However, he faced 24 transfers before receiving forced retirement in March 2021.
His wife, Nutan Thakur, works as an RTI activist. Together, they frequently raise issues concerning public welfare and police reforms. Consequently, Nutan alleges the arrest serves as retaliation for their activism.
“He takes up every possible issue of corruption and crime in which someone from the government is involved. Police have cooked up a case against him with ulterior motives,” Nutan told reporters.
पूर्व IPS अमिताभ ठाकुर को कुछ इस तरह गिरफ्तार किया गया।
लखनऊ से दिल्ली जा रहे थे ट्रेन में सोते हुए शाहजहांपुर में गिरफ्तार हुए।
ख़बर आ रही है कि जमीन धोखाधड़ी मामले में पुलिस ने एक्शन लिया है। pic.twitter.com/yGcsS6imjF
— Prof. इलाहाबादी ( نور ) (@ProfNoorul) December 10, 2025
Previous Legal Troubles
In 2021, police arrested Thakur on charges of abetting suicide. Nevertheless, he received bail after six months. Similarly, he filed several corruption cases before the Allahabad High Court. However, none have reached conclusions yet.
During his court appearance, Thakur alleged that powerful individuals might plot his murder because he continuously highlights wrongdoings in the government system.
The case against IPS Amitabh Thakur continues to draw attention as supporters view it as an attack on whistleblowers fighting corruption in India.
