13 minute audio exposes alleged police extortion in Chhindwara:Victim claims illegal detention, assault and bribe demands at Umranala outpost; staff deny charges

A 13-minute audio recording that has surfaced from Umranala Police Outpost, under the Mohkhed police station area of Chhindwara district, has triggered serious allegations against the outpost in-charge and staff. The audio contains claims of illegal extortion, custodial assault and unlawful detention by falsely implicating people in criminal cases. The allegations are levelled against Outpost In-charge Sub-Inspector Parasnath Armo and personnel posted at Umranala. The conversation in the audio is said to be between a man identifying himself as the victim, Aman, and Constable Mukesh Jat, who is posted at the same outpost. Bhaskar Digital has not independently verified the authenticity of the audio. Location near Maharashtra border and forest area
Umranala Police Outpost is located close to the Maharashtra border and a forest belt. Heavy vehicles frequently pass through the area. The audio repeatedly refers to a case linked to an alleged seizure of teak wood. The victim claims he was falsely implicated in this case and later released after paying a large sum of money. Claims of illegal detention and extortion
In the audio, Aman alleges that he and others were detained inside the police outpost for several days and were not even allowed to step outside. He claims that the entire case was fabricated to extort money. According to the conversation, the victim says that police personnel took all the money they had. He alleges that they were confined inside the outpost and released only after payments were made. Constable Mukesh Jat is heard saying that Rs 4,000 was given to some personnel and Rs 6,000 to an ASI, naming Surendra Yadav. He further mentions that the outpost in-charge was dissatisfied even after receiving money, allegedly saying that if anyone wanted to take it, they could, it did not matter to him. Allegations of assault inside the outpost
The audio also contains references to physical intimidation. Constable Mukesh allegedly tells the victim that, on the instructions of the outpost in-charge, he hit Aman with a pipe to scare him. Aman responds that the pipe was struck on the ground and not directly on him, to which the constable agrees. The victim says he told the police the truth from the beginning, but was deliberately trapped for money. He claims he was kept inside the outpost for three to four days only for extortion. Conflicting amounts mentioned in the audio
Different figures are mentioned in the conversation regarding the alleged extortion. Aman claims that Rs 1.5 lakh was taken from four people. The constable, however, refers to information about Rs 70,000 initially, later mentioning that a total transaction of around Rs 2.30 lakh may have taken place. There is also a discussion about additional money allegedly taken from two other individuals, despite no case being made against them. Aman says he does not have complete information about those payments. Teak wood case and alleged fabrication
The audio repeatedly refers to teak wood. Aman insists that there was no teak-related matter at all. He alleges that the main people involved in teak trading were never touched, while he was dragged into the case because of the driver of the vehicle. He claims that the actual suspects lived near a local leader’s residence and were known to the police, yet no action was taken against them. According to him, everything was ‘settled outside’ by the outpost staff. 4-day detention questioned
The constable is heard saying that keeping someone in a police outpost for three or four days without proving any offence is wrong. He remarks that such detention causes serious defamation, as being held in a police station for several days is viewed negatively in society. Aman alleges that from the very first day, he was told that the matter could be settled through ‘give and take’. He claims that had money been discussed on day one, he would have been released immediately. Allegations in another case
The audio also refers to a separate incident in Jabalpur. Aman alleges that a person from his community was framed in a false case involving a woman and was released only after paying Rs 2 lakh. He claims the man was assaulted and paid the money fearing loss of his job. Constable Mukesh, in the audio, denies receiving any money in that case. However, he goes on to describe a detailed distribution of Rs 2.20 lakh, stating that Rs 1.10 lakh was kept at the police outpost, Rs 1.10 lakh was given to the woman involved, and smaller amounts were distributed among other individuals, including a clerk and another constable. Victim’s statement to Bhaskar
Victim Aman told Bhaskar that he was detained at Umranala outpost for four days in April. He alleged that money was taken from four people for his release. Initially, he claims, there was an attempt to frame him in a teak smuggling case, but later action was taken under Section 151. He said the audio recording is around two months old and was recorded when he called the constable to question the treatment meted out to him. Outpost in-charge denies allegations
When contacted, Outpost In-charge Sub-Inspector Parasnath Armo outright denied all allegations. He stated that no such incident had taken place and that he had no knowledge of any extortion or illegal detention. Attempts to contact Constable Mukesh Jat were unsuccessful, as his mobile phone was found switched off. The emergence of the audio has raised serious questions about alleged misconduct at Umranala Police Outpost. However, with the authenticity of the recording yet to be independently verified, the matter now rests with the authorities to conduct a thorough inquiry and establish the facts.