₹100 crore! That’s the amount Rishikant Shukla, the disgraced UP Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) is said to have amassed through corruption, intimidation, and deep-rooted criminal collusion.
Shukla was suspended earlier this week after the Uttar Pradesh government ordered a vigilance inquiry against him. This after a Special Investigation Team exposed how Shukla, once celebrated as an encounter specialist, allegedly milked that very same reputation to extort property, silence victims, and build an illicit real estate empire across Kanpur.
Shukla had help, of course. During his tenure in Kanpur between 1998 and 2009, Shukla reportedly got involved with advocate-turned-dreaded gangster - Akhilesh Dubey.
Together they systematically threatened builders, businessmen, and property owners with false cases. Shukla would then force them to transfer their land or assets to his name - often at gunpoint. Dubey is said to have run a powerful syndicate with several officers, including Shukla, at its centre.
The SIT found at least 12 benami properties owned by Shukla, valued at approximately ₹92 crore. Along with additional properties that are yet to be verified, senior police officials put Shukla's total net worth around ₹100 crore.
Worse, despite mounting allegations over the years, no action was taken against Shukla until now - largely due to his political connections.
Case in point - earlier this year, Shukla hosted his son’s wedding at one of Kanpur’s most luxurious resorts. The guest list? Senior police officials, MLAs, MPs, and local party leaders, underscoring the influence Shukla wielded within both bureaucratic and political circles.
