Mani Lal Patidar, a 2014 batch IPS officer of UP was evading arrest in death of Mahoba based businessman, Indra kant Tripathi who was found dead in 2020 with gunshot wounds

Photo Credit : Twitter ,

New Delhi, October 17

An IPS officer who had been evading arrest for around two years in connection with the death of Mahoba-based businessman surrendered before a local court in Lucknow. 

The IPS officer Mani Lal Patidar, a 2014 batch IPS officer was sentenced to judicial custody. 

In June last year, the UP government announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for nabbing him while the Uttar Pradesh Police had attached his properties following a court directive.

As per the case details, the 2014 batch IPS officer, Patidar, was booked after businessman Indra Kant Tripathi (44) was found with gunshot injuries in his car on September 8, 2020. 

Tripathi died five days later and his brother Ravi Kant got an FIR lodged against Patidar and three others, including former station house officer (SHO) of Kabrai police station Devendra Shukla, for extortion, officials said. 

According to the police, two of the other accused were local businessmen Suresh Soni and Brahmdutt. Tripathi’s brother had alleged that Patidar had demanded a bribe of Rs 6 lakh from the victim. The officer was subsequently suspended by the state government.

During the course of investigation, the police found the role of constable Anil Yadav in the case and booked him. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the state government to investigate the case concluded that Tripathi had died by suicide. Sections under which the case was charged were later changed to abetment to suicide. Barring Patidar, all the other accused were arrested and sent to jail, added officials.