Former DM, police among 26 booked for illegal demolition of journalist’s house in Uttar Pradesh
Maharajganj: Nearly two months after the Supreme Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to hold officials accountable for the illegal demolition of journalist Manoj Tibrewal Akash’s ancestral house, the police have registered a criminal case against 26 individuals. Those named in the FIR include the then District Magistrate (DM) Amar Nath Upadhyay, several police officers, administrative officials, engineers, and contractors.
The FIR, filed on December 30, 2024, charges the accused with 16 offences, including criminal conspiracy, disobedience of law, forging documents, and wrongful confinement. The demolition, carried out on September 13, 2019, was reportedly linked to a road widening project. Tibrewal alleges the action was part of a "vindictive conspiracy" following his father’s complaint about corruption in the construction of a nearby highway stretch.
In November 2024, a three-judge Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud condemned the act, describing it as “bulldozer justice,” and ordered the state to pay Tibrewal Rs 25 lakh in compensation. The apex court also instructed the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to ensure punitive measures against those responsible.
Tibrewal’s complaint claims that officials demolished the family’s two-storey house and shop without notice, acquisition process, or compensation. He described the incident as a “criminal act,” alleging officials forcibly vacated his family, misbehaved with his mother and pregnant sister-in-law, and left no time to retrieve valuables.
The property, purchased by Tibrewal’s grandfather in the 1960s, was reportedly marked for partial demolition during a meeting with district officials. However, the next day, the entire structure was demolished, allegedly without warning, under heavy police deployment.
The FIR names several officials, including ADM Maharajganj Kunj Bihari Agarwal, executive officer Rajesh Jaiswal, superintendent engineers Manikant Agarwal and Ashok Kanojia, and nine police officers, among others. The charges include rioting, criminal intimidation, causing injury, forgery, and endangering personal safety.
Amar Nath Upadhyay, who served as Maharajganj’s DM during the incident, has faced prior accusations of financial irregularities, including overreporting the number of cattle at a conservation centre. Following the demolition, he was suspended but later reinstated to other administrative roles.
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Agra man arrested for harassing, touching inappropriately Czech tourist visiting Taj Mahal
Agra, Apr 6 (PTI): A man was arrested for allegedly harassing and touching inappropriately a tourist from the Czech Republic visiting the Taj Mahal, police said on Sunday.
The alleged incident occurred on April 3 and the arrest was made after a thorough investigation, they said.
In a written complaint at the Tourist police station, the woman alleged that she was "touched inappropriately and harassed" while walking along the Shamshan Ghat Road around 1 pm, they added.
The police registered a case and began a probe, deploying multiple teams to nab the accused.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Taj Security) Syed Areeb Ahmed said, "A case was registered on the complaint of the foreign woman. Several teams were deployed to search for the accused. (Footage from) several CCTV cameras covering the area was scanned. After investigation, the accused Karan Rathore was arrested on Sunday."
The woman has identified Rathore as the accused and he has been taken into custody, the officer said.
