JAIPUR: A constable posted in Jhalawar was dismissed from service after it came to light that several active criminals had attended his wedding ceremony earlier this month in Nagaur, raising questions about his links with suspected bad actors under police scrutiny and triggering a departmental inquiry.Amit Kumar, superintendent of police, Jhalawar, told TOI that constable Ashok Bishnoi, posted at Bhalta police station, was dismissed after allegations of his association with smugglers and known criminals were substantiated by a formal inquiry.Kumar said a confidential complaint received a few days ago alleged that several known smugglers and criminals active in Jhalawar and neighbouring Madhya Pradesh attended Bishnoi’s wedding celebrations over Feb 1 and Feb 2. Taking cognisance of the seriousness of the charge, the district police handed the matter to the circle officer of Pirawa for a detailed probe.The investigation, based on technical evidence and corroborative material, established that eight active criminals, including suspected smugglers, were present at the wedding ceremony. Police said several persons in this group of eight had FIRs registered against them at Bhalta police station, hinting at a nexus.Officials examined call records and other inputs before arriving at their conclusion.The wedding was held in Nagaur, nearly 500 km from Jhalawar, a detail that further deepened suspicions about the extent and nature of his association with known and suspected criminals.The inquiry found that among the attendees was one Pappu Tanwar, who had had one of his properties frozen under Section 68F of the NDPS Act on grounds that it was acquired through illegal means.Other serious offenders present at the wedding included Ramesh Lal, who is an accused in two separate NDPS cases, one of which is registered at Bhalta police station, where constable Bishnoi was posted. Another name that popped out during the investigation was that of Ram Gopal, who faces five criminal cases ranging from offences under the Rajasthan Public Gambling Ordinance to the NDPS Act at Bhalta and Aklera police stations of Jhalawar.“The constable’s conduct was contrary to the core values and code of conduct of the force. We have a zero-tolerance policy toward any nexus with criminals,” Kumar said.
