MP Police Witness Scandal: Same Six Names in Hundreds of FIRs Spark Probe
Late-night raids and routine seizures across villages in Madhya Pradesh's Mauganj district shared a curious pattern. The same six individuals appeared as government witnesses in hundreds of cases. Digital crime tracking records now confirm this alarming repetition.
Digital Records Reveal Systematic Pattern
Scrutiny of the Crime & Criminal Tracking Network & Systems exposed the troubling trend. FIRs from Laur and Naigadhi police stations showed identical names appearing case after case. This discovery has snowballed into a major controversy.
At the center stands Jagdish Singh Thakur. He previously served as in-charge of both police stations. An RTI activist filed complaints accusing Thakur of misusing his position. The complaints allege he registered over 150 questionable FIRs.
The activist claims Thakur repeatedly cited favored individuals as witnesses. This practice allegedly facilitated routine police action, justified cases on paper, and enabled corruption. One individual, Amit Kushwaha, appeared as a witness in hundreds of cases. He reportedly moved with Thakur during the officer's transfers.
Activist's Persistent Complaints
RTI activist Kunj Bihari Tiwari first lodged a police complaint in 2022. He filed another detailed complaint in December 2025, sharing what he calls proof. Tiwari examined FIRs spanning more than a year.
"I found around 200 cases with common names," Tiwari stated. "When I scanned records from the year 2000, I found similar names in about 1,000 FIRs."
Tiwari claims personal victimization too. He alleges the same police officer framed him in a case.
Police Response and Witness Statements
Acting on the complaint, Mauganj SP Dilip Soni removed Thakur as Naigadhi police station in-charge on Sunday. Soni confirmed receiving details about 145 FIRs with common witnesses.
"We are getting the complaint probed in detail," Soni told reporters. He clarified that this issue represented one reason for the action, not the only reason.
Some named witnesses now distance themselves from police actions. Dinesh Kushwaha, a vegetable vendor, expressed surprise at his repeated appearance in records.
"I signed as a witness in only one or two cases where I was present," Kushwaha said. "I wasn't a witness in so many other cases. Police wrote my name as a witness without my knowledge."
Another witness, Rahul Vishwakarma, described similar experiences. "I was not present during the action," Vishwakarma explained. "I used to sign after the accused were arrested and brought to the police station. But I did not sign as a witness in so many cases. I am a driver."
Investigation Underway
Police officers stated the probe will examine multiple aspects:
- Whether legal procedures and norms were violated
- If disciplinary action becomes necessary
- If criminal charges should be pursued
Journalists accessed and examined copies of over 40 such FIRs. They confirmed the same names repeatedly listed as witnesses across unrelated cases. The scandal highlights potential systemic issues in police documentation practices.
The controversy continues unfolding as investigations proceed. Public trust in police procedures faces scrutiny while authorities work to determine the full extent of irregularities.
