Four Uttar Pradesh police personnel posted with the cyber police unit in Ayodhya were arrested in Sikar, Rajasthan, after they allegedly travelled there to collect ₹2.80 lakh in a bribery deal linked to a cyber fraud case.
The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) reportedly caught the four personnel while they were allegedly accepting the money from a person who had been summoned in connection with a cyber fraud investigation. The incident has raised serious questions about the alleged misuse of police authority and the way criminal investigations can be used to pressure suspects or their families.
The arrested personnel have been identified as Sub-Inspector Yashwant Singh and constables Gaurav, Sohanlal and Pawan Tripathi. All four are posted with the cyber police in Ayodhya, according to the information available in the case.
Alleged Threat Over Cyber Fraud Case
According to the details of the incident, the matter began when a person from Sikar, Rajasthan, allegedly received a notice from the Ayodhya police. He was reportedly asked to appear in Ayodhya for questioning in connection with a cyber fraud case.
The police personnel allegedly told him that his name had surfaced in the case and that he could face serious legal consequences, including jail, if the matter was not resolved.
The person reportedly faced pressure over the alleged cyber fraud connection. During the course of the interaction, the accused police personnel allegedly demanded ₹4 lakh to help him avoid further action in the case.
The negotiations eventually brought the alleged demand down to ₹2.80 lakh.
What followed was a carefully planned operation by Rajasthan’s Anti-Corruption Bureau.
ACB Lays Trap in Sikar
After allegedly receiving information about the demand for money, the Rajasthan ACB reportedly began preparing a trap to catch the accused officials.
The four Ayodhya cyber police personnel allegedly travelled from Uttar Pradesh to Sikar to collect the agreed amount. The movement of the police personnel to Rajasthan reportedly formed a crucial part of the trap operation.
The ACB team waited for the alleged transaction to take place. Once the money was allegedly handed over, officers moved in to apprehend the accused.
The operation turned into a dramatic confrontation when the accused allegedly attempted to escape.
According to the information provided, the police personnel allegedly tried to flee after spotting the ACB team and even attempted to get away by ramming their vehicle into the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s vehicle.
The ACB team, however, managed to stop them and take all four accused into custody.
Four Ayodhya Police Personnel Named
The accused personnel have been identified as Sub-Inspector Yashwant Singh, constable Gaurav, constable Sohanlal and constable Pawan Tripathi.
Their alleged involvement is particularly significant because they were serving in a cyber police unit, where investigations often involve sensitive financial transactions, digital evidence and complaints involving large sums of money.
The allegations, if established during the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings, could raise concerns about the misuse of investigative powers and the vulnerability of people facing cybercrime allegations.
At the same time, the allegations remain subject to the legal process, and the accused will have the opportunity to present their defence before the appropriate authorities and court.
Why the Case Matters
The case has drawn attention because the alleged bribe demand was reportedly linked directly to the threat of legal action in a cyber fraud investigation.
Cybercrime complaints have increased sharply in recent years, and police cyber units have become an important part of investigations involving online financial fraud, digital identities and electronic transactions.
For people facing such investigations, a police notice can carry significant legal and emotional pressure. That makes allegations of coercion or bribery particularly serious because they can undermine public confidence in the investigation process itself.
Police officers are legally empowered to investigate alleged offences, question suspects and collect evidence. However, any alleged demand for money in exchange for avoiding criminal action represents a serious departure from that responsibility.
ACB Action Puts Spotlight on Police Accountability
The Rajasthan ACB’s intervention has also brought renewed attention to the role of anti-corruption agencies in dealing with alleged misconduct by public servants.
Trap operations are generally designed to catch an accused person during or immediately after an alleged bribe transaction, helping investigators gather evidence of the suspected demand and acceptance of illegal gratification.
In this case, the alleged movement of the accused from Uttar Pradesh to Rajasthan and the subsequent trap made the operation particularly notable.
The alleged attempt to escape after the ACB team intervened could become another important aspect of the investigation. Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged transaction, the communication between the parties, the source and movement of the money, and the events that followed the trap.
Investigation Likely to Examine Full Chain of Events
The arrest is unlikely to be the end of the matter. Investigators will need to establish how the alleged demand was made, who initiated the negotiations, how the amount of ₹2.80 lakh was finalised and what the accused allegedly promised in return for the payment.
The original cyber fraud case will also remain relevant. Investigators may examine whether the person who was allegedly threatened had any genuine connection with the case and whether the criminal investigation was being used improperly to demand money.
The sequence of events could also determine whether further individuals were involved in the alleged arrangement.
For now, the four Ayodhya police personnel remain at the centre of the bribery investigation following their arrest in Sikar.
The case has become a striking example of how allegations of corruption within law enforcement can quickly cross state boundaries and trigger action by another state’s anti-corruption agency. It also underlines the importance of transparent investigations, proper documentation and accountability when police officers exercise powers against people accused of cybercrime.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the evidence collected by the Rajasthan ACB will be crucial in determining the exact circumstances of the alleged ₹2.80 lakh transaction and the responsibility of each of the four accused personnel.