Lucknow: Serious allegations of an alleged “extortion network” and corruption within the police department have snowballed into a major political and administrative controversy after a constable posted a series of explosive videos accusing officials of illegal collections and harassment.
Constable Sunil Kumar Shukla, currently posted at the Lucknow Police Lines, has released three videos in succession alleging rampant corruption in the internal functioning of the police department. His claims have triggered widespread debate across social media and political circles, raising uncomfortable questions about transparency and accountability within the force.
According to the constable, every policeman and “diwan” posted in the police lines is allegedly forced to pay ₹2,000 every month in exchange for duty allocation. In his latest video released on Sunday, Shukla appeared emotional and visibly distressed as he accused a team of six to seven policemen of raiding his residence around 1 am and misbehaving with his mother and sister.
“Either End Corruption or Kill Me”
Shukla, a 2015-batch constable originally from Amethi and a BSc graduate from University of Allahabad, appealed directly to Yogi Adityanath in the video, calling the Chief Minister his “guardian” and seeking justice.
Questioning the police action at his residence, he said he was being treated “like a terrorist or a Naxalite” merely for speaking against corruption. In a dramatic statement that has now gone viral, Shukla declared that if the administration wanted to silence him, it should either end corruption within the department or “have him killed,” insisting that he would not back down.
The constable also used sharp language against senior officers, referring to some officials as “black Englishmen,” and alleged that the extortion system involved personnel ranging from clerical staff and Reserve Inspectors (RI) to certain IPS officers.
Questions Raised Over Internal Inquiry
Following the release of the first video, the Lucknow Police Commissionerate constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the allegations. However, Shukla questioned the credibility of the probe in his second video, claiming that the very officer assigned to investigate the matter was himself allegedly linked to the extortion network.
Demanding an impartial investigation, the constable called for the matter to be handed over either to an independent agency or to a senior officer outside the IPS hierarchy. He argued that only a neutral investigation could reveal the truth behind the allegations and restore confidence in the system.
His statements have intensified public scrutiny over the functioning of police lines and internal deployment systems within the Uttar Pradesh Police.
Police Reject Allegations
As the controversy escalated, the Lucknow Police Commissionerate issued an official clarification through social media, dismissing the allegations of misconduct during the late-night visit as “false and baseless.”
According to the police administration, Shukla had been served notices through email and WhatsApp directing him to appear before the departmental inquiry committee to record his statement. When he allegedly failed to comply, a police team visited his residence in accordance with official procedure to deliver the notice physically.
The department also reminded personnel that the police social media policy prohibits airing departmental grievances on public platforms. Officials indicated that disciplinary proceedings could also be initiated against the constable for violating departmental conduct rules.
Public Debate Over Transparency
The controversy has brought renewed attention to alleged irregularities in “guard duty” assignments and police line administration within the Uttar Pradesh Police setup. The case has sparked intense discussion online, with many citizens questioning why an educated constable would risk his career by making such serious allegations if there was no substance behind them.
Several social media users and civil society voices have demanded a transparent and unbiased inquiry, arguing that the matter goes beyond one individual officer and touches upon broader issues of institutional accountability.
The episode has also become politically sensitive because the state government led by Yogi Adityanath has consistently projected a “zero tolerance against corruption” policy. Opposition parties and critics are now closely watching how the administration responds to the allegations emerging from within its own policing system.
Growing Pressure on the Administration
With the videos continuing to circulate widely and public interest intensifying, pressure is mounting on the state administration to ensure credibility in the inquiry process. The controversy has highlighted the difficult balance between departmental discipline and whistleblower protection within law enforcement institutions.
For now, the matter remains under departmental investigation, but the political and public resonance of the allegations has ensured that the issue is unlikely to fade quickly. From Lucknow’s police lines to the corridors of power in the state capital, the case has become a test of transparency, accountability, and institutional trust in one of India’s largest police forces.
