Deputy Superintendent of Police Rishikant Shukla has been suspended after a Special Investigation Team uncovered an allegedly illegal empire worth nearly ₹100 crore, exposing corruption, intimidation tactics, and suspected cooperation with a criminal network in Kanpur. Once known and praised as an encounter specialist, Shukla is now accused of misusing his authority over many years to pressure, threaten, and exploit citizens, particularly property owners and businessmen. The SIT’s findings point to a pattern where Shukla allegedly invoked his image as a fearsome police officer to coerce individuals into surrendering land, assets, and money under duress.
Witness statements gathered during the inquiry suggest that Shukla routinely resorted to threats, fabricated criminal charges, and psychological pressure to secure valuable properties. According to one major complainant, Manohar Shukla, the officer used intimidation and force to seize land worth between ₹60 crore and ₹70 crore. Manohar described how he originally co-owned the property with Shukla and agreed to sell his share for ₹7 crore due to personal circumstances. However, after calling him to finalize the payment, Shukla allegedly pointed a firearm at him and declared that he would receive nothing. This incident, as well as several others shared privately, reflects a climate of fear that kept multiple victims silent for years.
Investigators say Shukla did not operate alone. The probe has connected him to Kanpur-based lawyer Akhilesh Dubey, who is believed to have coordinated a syndicate involving Shukla and several police personnel. Dubey’s influence reportedly enabled the group to file false criminal cases, particularly related to land and harassment, against targeted individuals. These fabricated cases allegedly served as leverage to force settlements or extract property. Together, the group is believed to have manipulated both law enforcement systems and legal processes for personal gain, causing significant financial loss and emotional trauma to victims.
Financial scrutiny has revealed that Shukla channelled a large portion of the alleged illegal earnings into a construction company associated with Dubey, where his wife, Prabha Shukla, was reportedly positioned as a partner. Investigators maintain that this company may have functioned as a front for laundering black money. In addition, two other DSPs posted in Kanpur reportedly invested significant sums in the same business venture. Even after their transfers, the enterprise is said to have continued operating, raising further questions about systemic involvement and oversight failures.
Despite numerous complaints and whispered allegations over the years, Shukla avoided consequences until now, reportedly because of political connections that shielded him from disciplinary action. His strong network became publicly visible earlier this year, when senior politicians, officers, and local leaders attended his son’s grand wedding celebration at a luxury venue in Kanpur. This widespread support and social prominence highlight how deeply his influence appears to have penetrated local administrative and political systems.
The SIT’s preliminary report has identified at least 12 benami properties across Kanpur and nearby districts, with initial estimates placing their value at around ₹92 crore. However, investigators believe the total may rise as more documentation surfaces. Shukla is believed to have accumulated most of this wealth between 1998 and 2009, during a prolonged tenure in Kanpur as he climbed through ranks from Sub-Inspector to Circle Officer. Following the SIT’s findings, a full vigilance investigation has been initiated, identified assets are being frozen, and further legal action is expected as additional financial trails are scrutinized.
