4 Policemen Suspended for Helping Smugglers; ‘Bunty-Babli’ Couple Held in Mathura

March 4, 2026

In a significant crackdown on corruption within the police ranks, four policemen in Kanpur were suspended for allegedly colluding with drug smugglers, officials said on Wednesday. The action came after a confidential investigation by senior police officers revealed that the policemen repeatedly protected and facilitated narcotics dealers operating in the area, undermining ongoing anti-drug efforts.

The suspension was ordered by the Kanpur Police Commissionerate, following findings that the accused officers had been providing active support and protection to smugglers involved in illegal drug distribution, enabling them to evade law enforcement and return to business soon after being released.

The four suspended officers include:

• Shravan Kumar, in-charge of Panki police post, against whom multiple complaints had earlier surfaced.

• Ranjit Kumar Sharma, Head Constable at Kakadev Police Station.

• Jitendra Pratap Singh, Head Constable with Sachendi Police.

• Kamal Kant, Head Constable at the Reserve Police Line.

Police officials said a departmental inquiry has been initiated by the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Anjali Vishwakarma, to determine the extent of their involvement and recommend further action, which could include dismissal or legal proceedings once the investigation concludes.

Senior Kanpur police authorities emphasised that the suspensions underscore the department’s zero-tolerance policy toward misconduct among law enforcement personnel and its commitment to curbing the drug trade in the region.

‘Kabootarbaazi’ Racket: Punjab Couple Held in Vrindavan

In a separate development in Uttar Pradesh, a Punjab-based husband and wife were arrested in Vrindavan, Mathura, for running a large-scale illegal immigration and visa fraud racket, police said on Tuesday.

The couple, identified as Saurabh Gupta and his wife Pragati Gupta, both residents of Patiala, Punjab, were apprehended after months of investigations by the Punjab Police, acting on multiple complaints that the duo had duped aspiring migrants looking to travel abroad.

Police said the Gupta couple lured victims by promising work visas and overseas travel particularly to Canada and other foreign destinations — using forged documents. They are accused of collecting amounts ranging from ₹50 lakh to over ₹2.5 crore per person for their fraudulent services.

Officials stated that the accused had been living quietly in a rented flat at the Hare Krishna Orchid Society in Sunrakh area of Vrindavan for over two and a half years, where they allegedly managed their illegal immigration operations while posing as spiritually inclined residents to avoid suspicion.

Neighbours said they were unaware of the couple’s alleged criminal activities until police executed the raid. The accused were produced before a local magistrate and will be taken to Malerkotla (Punjab) on transit remand for further investigation and legal proceedings.

Police are also probing whether the couple had any accomplices involved in the network and are working to identify other victims allegedly duped through the racket.

Law Enforcement Response and Public Impact

Both incidents underscore ongoing law-and-order challenges in Uttar Pradesh, from internal corruption within the police force to complex fraud and immigration scams that exploit vulnerable individuals seeking opportunities abroad. Experts say that such illegal networks often flourish due to weak administrative oversight and large sums of money involved, prompting calls for stricter legal measures and improved inter-state police cooperation.

Authorities have assured that the Kanpur police suspensions and the Mathura arrests will send a strong message that misconduct and criminal exploitation will not be tolerated, especially when public trust in law enforcement and the justice system is at stake.