Kanpur- In a stunning crackdown on corruption within the Uttar Pradesh Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rishikant Shukla has been suspended over allegations of amassing disproportionate assets worth over ₹100 crore during his decade-long posting in Kanpur. The action follows a detailed investigation revealing deep ties between Shukla and notorious criminal Akhilesh Dubey, exposing a web of fake cases, extortion, and illegal land deals.

The suspension order, issued by UP Home (Police Services) Secretary IAS Jagdish on November 3, stems from a vigilance inquiry recommendation by the Additional Director General of Police (Administration). Shukla, who joined the force as a Sub-Inspector in 1998 and rose to DSP, was primarily stationed in Kanpur from 1998-2006 and again from December 2006-2009 over 10 years in total. During this period, he allegedly built an empire of unexplained wealth through benami properties and partnerships with dubious figures.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a Deputy Commissioner-level officer, was formed after reports surfaced of a gang of lawyers in Kanpur trapping innocent people in fabricated cases. The probe zeroed in on Akhilesh Dubey, son of Chamakrishna Dubey from Saket Nagar, Kanpur, who runs a syndicate involving forged FIRs, forced extortions, and land encroachments. Dubey's operations reportedly have collusion with police, Kanpur Development Authority (KDA), and other departments with Shukla at the center.

Key findings from the SIT report, referenced in letters from Kanpur Police Commissioner (dated September 10 and 15, 2025) and ADGP Administration (September 18, 2025), paint a damning picture:

• Shukla, his family, associates, and partners acquired properties at 12 locations valued at approximately ₹92 crore at current market rates.

• Three additional sites, linked to Shukla's PAN but lacking records, remain under scrutiny.

• Eleven shops in Aryan Nagar are registered under neighbor Devendra Dubey but are allegedly Shukla's benami assets.

Shukla's official income as a police officer could not justify this wealth explosion, the report states, terming the assets "disproportionate and several times his known sources of income." His friendship with Dubey is flagged as a key enabler, with evidence of joint ventures in properties and criminal activities.

The Home Department letter (No. PuRo-1-2025, dated November 3, 2025) directs the Principal Secretary, Vigilance Department, to launch a full vigilance probe into Shukla, currently posted as DSP (Area Officer) in Bhongaon, Mainpuri and pursue further action post-investigation. Attachments include over 266 pages of evidence, including SIT reports and commissioner correspondences.

This case highlights ongoing efforts to purge corruption from UP's law enforcement ranks, especially in high-crime hubs like Kanpur. Shukla's rapid rise from SI to DSP is now under the lens, with questions swirling about how such graft went unchecked for years. The Vigilance Department has been urged to expedite the inquiry, promising swift justice.