Uttar Pradesh cops hunt for absconding IPS officer in Rajasthan

LUCKNOW: A team of UP Police carried out raids in search of absconding IPS officer Manilal Patidar in Dungarpur district of Rajasthan in the wee hours of Friday in search of absconding IPS Manilal Patidar.Police action against the former Mahoba superintendent of police came days after the Allahabad high court dismissed Patidar’s plea seeking quashing of FIR against him.The IPS officer is wanted in connection with a case of abetment to suicide by a Mahoba-based trader Indrakant Triapthi, who had accused Patidar and other cops of extortion.ASP, crime, Prayagraj, Ashutosh Mishra, who is probing the case, said since most of the relatives of Patidar are based in Dungarpur the team was sent to trace him. The raids were carried out on the premises of six acquaintances of Patidar, he said. A team will also be sent to Gujarat where Patidar was found to be lurking, according to sources. On September 8, Indrakant Tripathi had uploaded a video on social media accusing Patidar of extortion. Hours later, Tripathi was found with a gunshot injury on his neck. He was admitted to a hospital where he died on September 13. Patidar was suspended and booked for attempt to murder. On CM Yogi Adityanath’s directive, an SIT was formed. Later, the charges of attempt to murder were changed to abetment to suicide in which Patidar and four others were booked.