Former Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer Amitabh Thakur was arrested in a dramatic early-hours operation on Wednesday, taken off a moving train by the Lucknow Crime Branch in connection with a 26-year-old land allotment fraud case. The arrest relates to allegations that he and his wife used forged identities to secure an industrial plot in Deoria during his service there in 1999.
What Are the Specific Allegations?
The case centers on the alleged fraudulent acquisition of Industrial Plot No. B-2 at the District Industries Center in Deoria. According to an FIR filed in September 2025, Thakur, while serving as Superintendent of Police in Deoria, misused his position to help his wife, Nutan Thakur.
The key allegations include:
Forged Identity: According to reports, Nutan Thakur applied using the fictitious name “Nutan Devi,” a fictitious husband’s name (“Abhijaat/Abhitap Thakur”), and a fictitious address from Sitamarhi, Bihar.
Fabricated Documents: The complaint states multiple documents—application forms, affidavits, treasury challans, and transfer deeds—were forged to deceive government departments.
Sale Under Real Names: The plot was later sold using the couple’s real identities, allegedly keeping officials and banks misled for years.
How Was the Arrest Carried Out?
Thakur was arrested while traveling to Delhi on the Lucknow-Delhi Superfast Express. A police team, already stationed at Shahjahanpur Junction, removed him from his AC coach in the early hours of Wednesday. He was then taken to Deoria for questioning and later produced before a court, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.
Police stated the arrest followed a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which gathered documentary evidence from Deoria and Bihar and recorded witness statements. They claimed Thakur did not cooperate with the investigation.
Who Is Amitabh Thakur?
Thakur is a controversial and high-profile former police officer with a career marked by confrontations.
His background includes:
- Education: A B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur (1989).
- Service: Joined the IPS in 1992 (UP cadre). Served as SP in multiple districts including Deoria, Gonda, and Ballia.
- Reputation: Known for challenging state governments and bureaucracy without fear, which has resulted in high-profile confrontations with political figures like Yogi Adityanath and Mulayam Singh Yadav.
- Forced Exit: He was forcibly retired by the UP government in June 2021 after the Union Home Ministry deemed him “not fit to be retained.”
- Political Turn: After retirement, he announced the formation of a political party called Adhikar Sena.
What Has Been the Reaction?
Nutan Thakur, Thakur’s wife, has criticized the arrest, claiming it was “politically driven” and that the land dispute was mistakenly transformed into a criminal matter. Thakur was arrested in August 2021 for aiding and abetting suicide and was given bail in March 2022. This arrest is the most recent in a string of legal issues.
Your Questions Answered: Amitabh Thakur Arrest FAQs
Q: What is the age of this case?
A: The alleged fraud is 26 years old, having started in 1999. On September 12, 2025, however, the FIR was just filed.
Q: Why was he arrested from a train?
A: Police probably followed him around. Arresting a suspect when they are traveling is a strategy to stop them from fleeing or to catch them when they are not at their home base and may be unprepared.
Q: Is this his first arrest?
A: No. He was arrested previously in August 2021 on charges related to the abetment of suicide of a sexual assault victim and was later granted bail in March 2022.
Q: What IPC sections is he charged under?
A: Cheating (420), forgery (467, 468), passing off fake documents as authentic (471), impersonation (419), and criminal conspiracy (120-B) are all covered in the FIR.
Q: What is the “SIT” that investigated?
A: SIT, or Special Investigation Team. It is a committed group of police officers created to look into complicated or well-known situations. An ACP-rank officer led this SIT.
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