The arrest of Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group Additional Superintendent of Police Mukesh Sony has taken a significant turn as corruption investigations intensify across the state. The Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested him in connection with an alleged demand of two crore rupees as a bribe to settle matters related to an ongoing investigation into a major plot scandal in Udaipur. Middleman Sajjan Singh has also been taken into custody, and a local court has remanded both individuals to police custody until September thirty. This recent development has not only brought fresh corruption allegations to the forefront but has also revived public debate surrounding controversial drug cases from several years ago involving the same officer.
The Bribe Demand and ACB Raid
According to the anti-corruption agency, the substantial bribe was allegedly demanded in exchange for favorable actions regarding FIRs and seized properties in the Udaipur plot fraud case. Following initial questioning of the middleman Sajjan Singh, investigators found indications pointing toward the direct involvement of the senior police officer, prompting his swift arrest. During joint interrogations, the middleman allegedly revealed that he remained in constant contact with complainants on the direct instructions of the police officer. Following these arrests, the agency dispatched the mobile phones of both suspects to a forensic laboratory to retrieve digital evidence of alleged financial transactions and communications. Additionally, the bureau conducted searches at the SOG office in Udaipur to inspect the files handled by the accused officer and determine what decisions were made under his purview. Authorities indicated that several other individuals are currently under the scanner as the investigation expands.
Revival of a Four-Year-Old Drug Case
The current bribery allegations have inadvertently pulled a historical drug case from twenty-one to twenty-two back into the spotlight, involving the seizure of narcotics worth approximately eleven crore rupees across Jaipur and Ajmer. At that time, the accused officer was posted as a circle officer in Ajmer, and the SOG had submitted a sixty-four-page report to the police department detailing alleged collusion between narcotics traffickers and law enforcement personnel. Questions are now being raised about what follow-up actions were taken after such a serious report was filed and whether an impartial inquiry into the conduct of the concerned officials ever took place. Despite those initial red flags, the officer was subsequently posted to key investigative positions in Ajmer and later in Udaipur, raising concerns about potential administrative patterns linking past complaints to current allegations.
Allegations of Favoritism and Altered Charges
The old drug investigation faced severe scrutiny regarding the handling of the primary suspect, Shyamasunder Mundra. Allegations emerged that the main suspect was given an opportunity to flee while a watchman and a tea vendor were arrested in his place. Furthermore, reports indicated that an official report was not filed until twenty-four hours after the recovery of substances, and the charges initially filed against the prime suspect under the NDPS Act were downgraded from a severe provision to a relatively lighter one. Conversely, stricter charges were levied against his associates, including Momin Shah, Kaluram Jat, and Sheikh Sajid. This discrepancy sparked widespread questions regarding whether charges were framed based on actual culpability or designed to shield certain individuals from severe legal consequences.
Documentary Discrepancies and Judicial Intervention
Inconsistencies within official documentation further complicated the historical case, particularly concerning the presence of drug inspector Ravindra at the scene on May twenty-four and June first. Subsequent records suggested that the official was performing departmental inspections elsewhere on those exact dates, creating a glaring contradiction regarding his location. Whether this discrepancy was a mere administrative oversight or an intentional technical loophole remained a central question. When the matter reached the Rajasthan High Court, the bench expressed strong reservations regarding police procedures. Following judicial directives, then-SOG Additional SP Divya Mittal investigated the matter, with her report reportedly confirming that severe charges against the primary suspect were dropped due to a lack of direct narcotics recovery from his possession. Justice Farzand Ali criticized the functioning of the law enforcement machinery during hearings, directing the Director General of Police to personally oversee an inquiry into the potential complicity of police officers. Consequently, an officer whose past investigative conduct faced judicial censure is now central to a fresh corruption inquiry.
Key Challenges Ahead for Investigators
The primary focus for the anti-corruption bureau now lies in corroborating digital evidence, call logs, financial demands, and documents recovered from the departmental office. Investigators will examine the specific cases handled by the accused officer, the nature of orders issued, and the decision-making hierarchy involved. This ensures the ongoing inquiry extends far beyond a simple bribery allegation, encompassing a broader review of past administrative actions.
