Former IPS officer and Azad Adhikar Sena chief Amitabh Thakur was arrested by the Lucknow Crime Branch of the Uttar Pradesh Police at Shahjahanpur Junction around 2 a.m. on Wednesday. He was travelling from Lucknow to Delhi on the Lucknow Superfast Express when the arrest was made.

As soon as the train halted at Shahjahanpur station, police personnel already present on the platform entered the AC coach, took Amitabh Thakur into custody, and detained him for questioning in a land-allotment case registered in Deoria. Following his arrest, he was taken to Sadar Kotwali police station in Deoria. Journalists were barred from entering the Kotwali premises.

Police officials also confirmed that the social media account X of Amitabh Thakur and his wife has been suspended. The arrest created tension among supporters and activists linked to his organization.

Reason behind the arrest
According to Amitabh Thakur’s wife and social activist Nutan Thakur, an FIR was registered against both of them in Deoria three months ago in connection with a land-allotment dispute. She claimed that the disputed land had already been vacated by the family around 25 years ago.

Nutan Thakur said that her husband was travelling to Delhi for official work when he was suddenly pulled off the train by plainclothes policemen without any immediate explanation. She expressed serious concern over his safety even before the police officially confirmed the arrest.

She further explained that in 1999, when Amitabh Thakur was posted as Superintendent of Police in Deoria, he had purchased a plot in the industrial area in her name. Due to a spelling error in her name on the documents, the plot was later surrendered. She alleged that the matter is now being revived to harass them.

First detained, then formally arrested
GRP in-charge Anil Kumar confirmed that a team of the Lucknow Crime Branch had been stationed at Shahjahanpur in advance. As soon as the train arrived, Amitabh Thakur was taken into custody and later shown as formally arrested.

Police officials stated that after preliminary questioning, he will be produced before a local court in Deoria. A few months ago, both Amitabh Thakur and his wife were named as accused in the same FIR.