The circumstances surrounding the death of Inspector Arun Kumar Rai, posted at the Kuthaund police station in Jalaun, are becoming increasingly complex. Phone logs, video calls, a female constable’s involvement, and her sudden escape from the scene have added several layers of suspicion.

According to departmental surveillance, over the three days leading up to the incident, Inspector Rai and female constable Meenakshi Sharma exchanged more than 100 phone and video calls. Meenakshi had also saved recordings of some conversations. On the day of the incident, she arrived in Jalaun from Meerut with fellow constable Ankit. Ankit dropped her off and returned to his duty area.

During interrogation, Meenakshi claimed that when she entered the inspector’s room late at night, he was holding his service pistol, and seeing her, he shot himself. However, she has not given a clear explanation for why she chose to visit him at that hour.

Inspector Rai was reportedly in a relationship with Meenakshi, but he denied the allegations of blackmail. After the shooting, he made calls to several colleagues. His call records also revealed frequent communication with more than 10 inspectors and sub-inspectors, raising further questions within the department.

A quick recap of the incident:
At 9:16 pm on Friday, a gunshot was heard from Inspector Rai’s official residence within the police station premises. CCTV footage shows Meenakshi talking on the phone at 9:15 pm and heading toward the inspector’s room. Immediately after the gunshot, at 9:18 pm, she is seen running out of the room on CCTV, shouting, “Sir, I have shot you,” before fleeing. During this time, she made several calls to different people.

When the police reached the room, they found Inspector Rai lying dead inside a mosquito net, covered in blood. His 9mm service pistol was found near his stomach, and the bullet had passed through his head. On Saturday, his wife, Maya Rai, arrived from Sant Kabir Nagar and filed an FIR alleging murder. She claimed that Meenakshi either killed her husband or arranged for someone else to do it.

The police launched a search for Meenakshi, who was arrested on Sunday. She was produced before the court and sent to 14 days of judicial custody in Orai District Jail. Dressed in a tracksuit and showing no remorse, she covered her face while entering the court. Her father and brother insisted she was innocent.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed by Jalaun SP Dr. Durgesh Kumar, headed by CO Shailendra Vajpayee. The team includes the newly appointed inspector of Kuthaund station, Ajay Pathak, SI Sheelwant, and other officers. One of the primary angles under investigation is whether Inspector Rai was being blackmailed. Colleagues have claimed Meenakshi demanded 25 lakh rupees from him to cover her wedding expenses and allegedly threatened to send video recordings to his wife if he refused.

Investigators confirmed she was on a phone call with the inspector moments before the incident. CCTV footage also shows her entering her room while arguing and then allegedly shooting herself.

Within the department, Meenakshi was known for her luxurious lifestyle. Her room had an air conditioner, and she used three mobile phones, including an iPhone. She recently acquired a necklace and diamond ring worth three lakh rupees, allegedly gifted by Inspector Rai. Her frequent communication with several senior officials is now under scrutiny to determine whether these were professional connections or something more.

The police are focusing on two key aspects:

1. Whether Meenakshi was pressuring the inspector financially for her wedding, scheduled for February 8, 2026, following her engagement in November.

2. The contents of the three mobile phones and four SIM cards recovered from her, which are now being thoroughly examined.

The case remains unresolved, with multiple conflicting statements and evidence making the truth increasingly difficult to pinpoint.