Chhattisgarh police constable found dead

A Chhattisgarh police constable, who was facing a probe in connection with an alleged police recruitment scam, was found hanging from a tree in Rajnandgaon district on Saturday (December 21, 2024).

A handwritten message on the palm of the deceased, Anil Ratnakar, on purported attempts to shield officers and implicate junior staff in the scam, has added mystery to the death, with the Opposition targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the State on alleged corruption. Ratnakar’s family has also alleged that he was being harassed by investigators.

Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohit Garg said Ratnakar’s body had been found on Saturday morning. Mr. Garg said Ratnakar and a few police personnel, as well as staff of a timing technology company partnering in the ongoing recruitment drive, were being questioned in connection with alleged irregularities in the drive.

The First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the alleged irregularities notes that “the process was tampered with in an unfair manner” and that the “possibility of involvement of technical team, police staff and others in the above case cannot be ruled out”.

Ratnakar, who was posted at the Jalbandha police post of neighbouring Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, was visiting Rajnandgaon to assist with the same recruitment drive examination in which 20,000 candidates had appeared. So far six persons — four constables and two members of the private company providing technical assistance — have been arrested, Mr. Garg said.

The SP added that a note handwritten with a pen had been found on Ratnakar’s palm, alleging (police) staff were being targeted amid attempts to “save officers who were involved”.

Anil Ratnakar’s older brother Sunil Ratnakar reiterated the allegations, and said that his brother was being framed. He cited a phone call from Anil and said the latter was being harassed and tortured by his seniors.

“He had called from someone else’s number and said he was not even 1% involved. He said that one by one their [his and other police personnel’s] statements were being taken and they were being harassed and tortured,” Mr. Sunil Ratnakar told journalists.

Mr. Garg said the allegations would be probed.

“The matter was serious to begin with and is being handled with seriousness. When the matter was revealed, we had filed an FIR. There will be a thorough probe into what was written on Anil’s hands. We are already probing and checking [the role of] all the officers and if we get any evidence against anyone, strict action will be taken,” Mr. Garg said.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel took to social media platform X and demanded a high level probe. “The police recruitment scam of Rajnandgaon seems to be a serious matter. What constable Anil Ratnakar wrote on his hand before committing suicide shows its seriousness. The meaning of ‘employees are being framed, officers are being protected. All officers are involved’ is clear @vishnudsai [Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s handle] ji. Corruption has definitely taken place. Officials also have a role to play. Now a high level investigation is necessary,” Mr. Baghel said.

Those who require assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts may contact Sanjivini, Society for Mental Health suicide prevention helpline 011-4076 9002 (10 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., Monday-Saturday).