Smuggler claims Indore police demanded ₹10 lakh for release:Held hostage in 5-star hotel in Indore; probe names ASI, and 3 other policemen guilty

In Indore, serious allegations have surfaced during the investigation into a smuggler being held hostage and assaulted. A 12-page probe report submitted by then Vijay Nagar ACP Aditya Patle to DCP Zone-2 Kumar Prateek on October 18, 2025, includes statements from smuggler Arif accusing police personnel of extortion, illegal detention, and assault. The report states that then TI Chandrakant Patel failed to control his subordinates, while ASI Bhupendra Singh Gurjar, Head Constable Mukesh Singh Jadon, Constable Kapil Sonania, and Radheshyam alias Radhe Rathore were found guilty. Arif alleged that during interrogation, Wasim told him ₹10 lakh was demanded for his release and that he was told to ‘call Arif and get him caught’ to secure freedom. Later, after talks allegedly involving the Barod Police Station TI and Vijay Nagar TI, the demand was reduced to ₹5 lakh from Wasim’s uncle. Arif further claimed that after a call came on Lokendra Khinchi’s phone, instructions were received to release Wasim, who was later freed outside a hotel. The report’s emergence has created a stir in the police department. Allegation of being held hostage and assaulted in the hotel According to the statement recorded in the investigation report, smuggler Arif stated that after he and Wasim were caught, they were kept in a hotel. A young man named Azhar was already present there. Arif alleged that Pramod Sharma, Lokendra Khinchi, and Radheshyam Rathore assaulted him in the hotel. He was asked where the goods he had brought 5 days ago were. He replied that he had sold the goods and used some himself. Wasim said – 10 lakh were demanded in exchange for release Arif stated in his statement that during interrogation, he told Wasim, ‘You have trapped me.’ To this, Wasim allegedly replied that 10 lakh rupees were demanded from him. It was said that if he called Arif and got him caught, then he would be released. According to the report, Waseem stated that Barod Police Station TI had spoken to Vijay Nagar TI. After this, Waseem’s uncle was told to bring 5 lakh rupees and take his man back. According to Arif’s statement, after some time, a call came on Lokendra Khinchi’s mobile, after which instructions were received to release Waseem. After this, Waseem was released outside the hotel. Customer called from Arif’s phone According to statements recorded in the investigation report, Arif said his customer Deepak, had called him to a hotel. When Deepak demanded the goods, Lokendra allegedly asked Arif to call him to Chandan Nagar Square, where a police team apprehended Deepak. Arif claimed the policemen then kept roaming with Deepak in the Vijay Nagar area before releasing him after he allegedly arranged ₹40,000 through a friend and handed it to Lokendra. Arif further stated that the next day, his friend Shivam from Gunawat in Dhar district called and informed him that a friend had brought goods from outside the state and asked whether he wanted them. Arif alleged that after overhearing the conversation, Lokendra signaled him to call Shivam to Indore. However, Shivam said he was attending his uncle’s wedding and asked him to meet a man named Kapil at Balaji Dhaba. The moment goods were shown at the dhaba, policemen surrounded them According to the statement recorded in the investigation report, Arif stated that as soon as the young man arrived with the goods, he was asked to sit in the car and show the goods. As soon as he showed the goods, policemen in another car surrounded them and brought everyone to the hotel. According to Arif, ASI Bhupendra Singh was also present at the hotel at that time. Arif stated that as soon as the young man arrived with the goods, he was asked to sit in the car and show the goods. As soon as he showed the goods, policemen in another car surrounded them and brought everyone back to the hotel. According to Arif, ASI Bhupendra Singh was also present at the hotel at that time. Wife arranged money through gold loan In his statement, Arif alleged that policemen demanded money for his release. He said his wife arranged ₹1 lakh by taking a gold loan from a finance company in Rajwada. According to Arif, his wife later handed the money to Lokendra Khinchi, after which he was released in the Vijay Nagar area. Some released for ₹20,000, others for ₹30,000 Arif stated that the next day, his friend Shivam informed him that Kapil and his associates were missing. Arif told him they had been detained by Vijay Nagar police and shared Lokendra Khinchi’s number. Later, Shivam informed him that Kapil and three others had been released after money was allegedly taken from them, some for ₹20,000 and others for ₹30,000. Counterfeit-note video found on mobile Arif claimed a video related to counterfeit notes was found on the mobile of a youth who had brought goods from Mandideep to Balaji Dhaba. According to him, Shivam later said policemen took the youth to an unknown location, but no further information about him was received. ACP report returned without action Questions are being raised over the handling of the investigation report. According to sources, ACP Patle had submitted the report to DCP Zone-2, but no action was taken, citing technical flaws. The report allegedly remained pending for months at the Police Commissioner’s office and was later sent to the Additional Commissioner of Police (Law) office, from where it was returned to the DCP office without action against the accused personnel.