Lucknow SI Dhananjay Singh Nabbed Accepting ₹2 Lakh Bribe to Remove Gang‑Rape Accused’s Name from FIR
Summary: The Anti‑Corruption Organisation (ACO), Lucknow, arrested Sub‑Inspector Dhananjay Singh on October 29, 2025, while accepting a ₹2 lakh bribe allegedly to remove the name of an accused—identified in media reports as Prateek Gupta—from a gang‑rape FIR registered at Mahanagar Police Station. Evidence included marked currency, chemical tracing, video recording and independent witnesses. (Sources linked below.)
Incident & Chronology
According to local media reports and statements from anti‑corruption officials, the sequence of events is as follows:
- Written complaint: A written complaint on October 24, 2025, prompted the ACO to open a preliminary probe and plan a trap operation. Times of India.
- Sting operation: On October 29, 2025 (approx. 9:15 PM), ACO operatives executed a sting at the Paper Mill Colony out‑post (Mahanagar PS). Marked notes in ₹500 denominations were used as bait and the exchange was captured on video. Times of India (follow‑up).
- Arrest: Sub‑Inspector Dhananjay Singh was arrested on the spot after the accused (or an intermediary) placed bundles of cash inside a file at Singh’s instruction; ACO moved in immediately. Free Press Journal.
- Charges & departmental action: The officer has been booked under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and departmental suspension proceedings have been initiated. The Logical Indian.
Forensic Evidence & Methods Used
This case highlights the application of several forensic techniques that strengthened the anti‑corruption prosecution. Below, we detail the methods used and their forensic rationale.
1. Marked‑Currency and Chemical Tracing
ACO operatives used pre‑marked currency as the primary physical bait:
- Preparation: High‑denomination bait notes (₹500) were treated with a trace reagent (phenolphthalein or similar) that is invisible under normal conditions but reacts to a developer (alkaline solution) used during evidence collection.
- Detection: After the alleged hand‑over, a sodium‑carbonate (alkaline) wipe test was applied to the officer’s palms and the currency. A pink colour change on contact with the developer indicates handling of the treated notes—creating an immediate, observable forensic link. (Reported in local coverage.)
- Best practice: Record serial numbers and photograph each note prior to the operation; log the treatment batch; document environmental conditions to reduce the risk of challenge during trial.
2. Video & Audio Forensics
- Continuous recording: The ACO used fixed‑position and handheld video capture during the operation, recording both the hand‑over and subsequent arrest. These recordings supply a time‑stamped, visual narrative of the event.
- Chain integrity: To authenticate footage, investigators stored original camera files on write‑protected media and computed cryptographic hashes (MD5/SHA‑256) that will be referenced in court to prove non‑tampering.
- Metadata preservation: Metadata (timestamps, device IDs, GPS if available) was preserved to corroborate location/time claims and to counter defence claims of editing. Viral social uploads were obtained in original format and preserved with metadata for authentication. Times of India.
3. Witnesses & Documentation (Chain of Custody)
Independent witnesses—reportedly including Public Works Department staff—were present during the sting. Their signed statements establish prima facie continuity of custody for the notes and the seized file.
- Documented serial numbers, witness signatures, and time‑stamped logs are essential to rebut claims of evidence planting.
- Photographic documentation of the scene (high‑resolution forensic photography) provides spatial context useful during testimony and reconstructive analysis.
4. Cyber‑Forensics & Digital Preservation
- For viral video circulating on social media, forensic analysts preserved original uploads or source files, extracted metadata, and produced an authenticity report that demonstrates the clip has not been tampered with.
- If body‑cam or phone footage exists, extracting a full device image and performing hash comparisons ensures that evidence admitted in court is identical to the original capture.
5. Complementary Financial & Communication Forensics
Beyond the on‑scene evidence, investigators typically carry out:
- Forensic accounting to identify unexplained assets, bank transfers, or patterns of illicit enrichment associated with the officer.
- Telecom metadata analysis to check for communications between the accused, intermediaries and the officer prior to the sting.
Legal Issues & Forensic Admissibility
For the evidence to remain strong in court, several legal‑procedural safeguards are required:
- Section 65B compliance: Digital evidence must be accompanied by proper certificates and custodial logs.
- Authenticity reports: For video/audio, an expert affidavit should explain the capture process, storage, and hash verification methodologies.
- Independent verification: When chemical tracers are used, contemporaneous photographs of the developer reaction and expert write‑ups by a forensic chemist bolster credibility.
Wider Implications
The alleged attempt to remove an accused’s name from a gang‑rape FIR strikes at the integrity of criminal investigations into sexual offences. The case illustrates how corruption jeopardises victim rights and the public trust in policing. It also demonstrates that forensic science is increasingly central to anti‑corruption work—bridging chemical tests, digital forensics and sound evidence‑management practices.
Open Questions
- Will forensic auditors find a pattern of illicit enrichment or prior similar complaints against the officer?
- Has the underlying gang‑rape FIR been safeguarded from tampering and is the complainant/victim being supported and protected?
- What departmental reforms (body‑cams, rotation of sensitive posts, mandatory evidence‑preservation protocols) will be instituted following the arrest?
Sources & Further Reading
- "Watch: Lucknow SI Dhananjay Singh caught taking Rs 2 lakh bribe to clear accused’s name from rape case; arrested" — Times of India
- "Lucknow SI's 'act of graft' inside police stn goes viral" — Times of India (follow‑up)
- "Lucknow Cop Caught Taking ₹2 Lakh Bribe To Remove Name From Gangrape Case" — Free Press Journal
- "Lucknow Inspector Caught taking ₹2 Lakh Bribe..." — The Logical Indian
- "Lucknow sub‑inspector caught taking ₹2 lakh bribe in ACB sting" — NewsKarnataka
- "Report on initial demand of ₹50 lakh and subsequent reduction to ₹2 lakh" — Uptak
- "Local Hindi coverage of the arrest and complaint" — LiveHindustan
Published by Budding Forensic Expert. For edits, republishing permissions, or to request original footage or forensic exhibits, contact the editorial desk.
