Lucknow, 23 June 2024 — Kripa Shankar Kanoujia, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Uttar Pradesh, has been demoted to the rank of constable following an incident involving a woman police constable. The demotion comes three years after the event, according to a report by India Today.

Kripa Shankar, who was serving as the Circle Officer (CO) of Bighapur in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, took leave in July 2021, citing family reasons. However, instead of going home, he checked into a hotel in Kanpur with a woman constable. 

The situation escalated when his wife reported him missing to the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Unnao. She grew concerned after being unable to reach him on his personal or official mobile phones, both of which were switched off.

A state police surveillance team was dispatched to trace his whereabouts using his mobile network. They located him at the hotel in Kanpur. CCTV footage corroborated the reports, showing Kripa Shankar and the woman constable entering the hotel together. The investigation revealed:

Kripa Shankar switched off his mobile phones upon arriving at the hotel. His wife, unable to contact him, alerted the authorities. The police traced his location using mobile network data. CCTV footage confirmed his presence at the hotel with the woman constable.

Following the investigation, a comprehensive report was submitted to the government. After a thorough review, the government recommended demoting Kripa Shankar from DSP to constable. He has now been reassigned to the 26th Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) Battalion in Gorakhpur.

In response to the demotion, Kripa Shankar's office has not issued any public statement. However, the action taken highlights the government's commitment to maintaining discipline and ethical conduct within the police force.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of professional integrity in law enforcement. The Uttar Pradesh police force's swift action underscores the need for accountability and sets a precedent for handling similar cases in the future.