The Chhattisgarh High Court has issued strict directions to ensure that CCTV cameras installed at police stations remain operational at all times and that their recordings are preserved for at least 18 months. The court said merely installing cameras is not enough and stressed the need for adequate storage, power backup and regular monitoring.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal issued the directions while hearing a petition related to an NDPS case registered at Gaurela police station in GPM district. The petitioners, including accused Banwari Lal Gupta and three others, had sought CCTV footage from the police station along with mobile call detail records and tower-location data.

The accused claimed that police had allegedly kept them at the police station a day before the incident. They sought CCTV footage from September 13 to 15, 2024, to support their claim.

CCTV footage had been deleted

During the proceedings, the trial court was informed that the requested CCTV footage was no longer available because the system had automatically deleted it after the completion of its 18-month storage period.

After examining the records, the High Court observed that when the footage itself was no longer available, an order directing authorities to produce it could not be passed. The court subsequently rejected the petition filed by the accused.

However, the case prompted the bench to issue broader directions concerning the functioning and preservation of CCTV systems across police stations in the state.

Cameras must remain operational

The High Court emphasised that CCTV cameras at police stations must remain operational continuously. Authorities must also ensure sufficient storage capacity and uninterrupted power backup so that recordings are not lost because of technical or administrative failures.

The court stressed that electronic evidence should not be destroyed because of negligence. If CCTV recordings are lost due to administrative or technical lapses, responsibility should be fixed on the officials concerned and appropriate action should follow.

18-month recording requirement

The court referred to the Supreme Court's directions concerning CCTV surveillance at police stations and said recordings should be preserved for a minimum period of 18 months.

The requirement is significant because CCTV footage can become important evidence in cases involving allegations of detention, custodial treatment, interrogation and other police procedures. Maintaining the recordings also strengthens transparency and accountability within the police system.

₹102.10 crore CCTV project

The state government informed the High Court that work is underway on a ₹102.10-crore project to strengthen CCTV infrastructure across 550 police stations in Chhattisgarh.

Under the proposed monitoring mechanism, district-level committees will inspect CCTV systems at police stations every month. They will also ensure that arrangements are in place to preserve the required 18-month recording backup and submit reports regarding the functioning of the systems.

The High Court directed that a copy of its order be sent to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police for compliance.

Focus on transparency and accountability

The bench observed that CCTV surveillance in police stations is intended not only to monitor police functioning but also to protect citizens' rights. Continuous recording and proper preservation of footage can provide an independent electronic record when disputes arise over events inside police premises.

The court has therefore directed the state authorities to ensure 100 per cent compliance with the Supreme Court's CCTV guidelines, including regular monitoring, adequate storage and reliable power backup.

The deceased has been identified as Sandeep Kumar Sinha, an Area Manager with Oriental Insurance Company's Raipur branch. According to railway officials, he was a regular commuter who frequently travelled between Durg and Raipur by train using a monthly railway pass.

The accident occurred in the early hours of July 23 at around 5:45 a.m. A Durg–Raipur local train was standing at Platform No. 4 when the Pune–Hatia Superfast Express arrived at Platform No. 3. After its scheduled halt, the express train began moving out of the station.

Investigators said Sinha initially intended to travel by the local train but changed his mind after noticing the departing superfast express. He hurried towards the moving train in an attempt to board it before it left the platform.

During the attempt, the laptop bag he was carrying reportedly slipped down his arm, affecting his grip on the coach handrail. As he tried to regain balance, he lost his footing and fell into the gap between the platform and the moving train.

The train ran over part of his body, severing his right leg. The impact caused severe injuries, and he suffered massive blood loss at the scene.

Passengers immediately alerted railway authorities, following which personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP) and railway staff rushed to the platform. He was pulled away from the tracks and shifted to the district hospital in an ambulance. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Police identified the victim through documents recovered from his belongings. His body was sent for post-mortem examination before being handed over to family members.

Two days after the accident, CCTV footage of the incident surfaced on social media and has since circulated widely online. The video shows Sinha running alongside the moving train before losing balance while trying to climb aboard. Railway officials have urged the public not to share the footage without discretion, given its sensitive nature.

Railway authorities have reiterated that passengers should never attempt to board or alight from moving trains. Officials said even a few seconds saved by trying to catch a departing train can result in irreversible consequences.

Preliminary findings indicate that the accident was caused by the loss of balance while boarding the moving train. The role of the slipping laptop bag is also being examined as part of the investigation.

The Government Railway Police has registered the case and is continuing its inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Railway authorities are also expected to review station surveillance footage and witness statements as part of standard procedure.

The tragedy has prompted renewed discussions about passenger safety at railway stations, with officials once again appealing to commuters to wait for the next available train instead of taking risks that could prove fatal.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged theft of donations at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir has identified nearly 70 suspicious incidents during a preliminary investigation into the counting of offerings made by devotees.

According to the report submitted to the Uttar Pradesh government, CCTV footage recorded between April 27 and June 5 allegedly shows several employees concealing bundles of currency notes inside their pockets, clothes, shoes and socks while working in the donation counting room.

The report was submitted on Monday night, shortly after a meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in which the resignations of senior functionaries Champat Rai and Dr Anil Mishra were accepted.

Security and counting process under scanner

The SIT has held Dr Anil Mishra responsible for major procedural and security lapses in the donation counting system. Investigators said he was overseeing financial management, cash collection operations and coordination related to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling donations.

The report noted that information regarding employees not being properly searched had already reached him through internal channels, but no effective corrective orders were issued.

Among the shortcomings identified by the SIT were:

• Absence of biometric attendance for staff

• Lack of mandatory uniforms

• Employees carrying personal belongings into the counting room

• Improper records of donation boxes and collected cash

• Weak daily reporting and monitoring mechanisms

Investigators said these gaps created opportunities for repeated theft of donations.

Six employees named in report

The SIT said preliminary evidence directly links six accused employees to the alleged thefts:

• Avinash Shukla

• Anukalp Mishra

• Lavkush Mishra

• Manish Kumar Yadav

• Karunesh Pandey

• Ramashankar Mishra

Based on CCTV footage, recovery of cash and examination of bank transactions, the SIT recommended prosecution under provisions related to theft, criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and conspiracy.

A case was subsequently registered on the complaint of trustee Krishna Mohan, and the accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody.

Large cash recovery from accused

Police sources said accused Avinash Shukla allegedly confessed to spending a significant portion of the stolen money on family members and personal expenses.

Investigators recovered:

• ₹20.39 lakh in cash

• 1,121 US dollars

• Gold jewellery

• Silver ornaments

• A car allegedly purchased using the proceeds

The SIT is also examining property transactions and fixed deposits linked to the accused and their relatives.

Counting room key issue

Another serious concern highlighted in the report relates to Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu, who allegedly kept the keys of the donation box counting room without any formal written authorisation.

The SIT further stated that Tinnu had recommended the appointment of Manish Kumar Yadav for counting work, and Manish was later found allegedly involved in the theft.

Trust meeting and ongoing investigation

The preliminary report was submitted to the government on June 23 by the three-member SIT comprising Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Lucknow Range IG Kiran S and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan.

Investigators have clarified that the current findings are only preliminary and that the probe is continuing into:

• Additional security failures

• Possible involvement of other individuals

• Responsibility of officials

• Systemic weaknesses in donation management

• Measures needed to prevent future thefts

A final report with detailed recommendations is expected to be submitted after completion of the investigation.

A 21-year-old man was arrested within 24 hours after allegedly entering an elderly couple's house at knifepoint and robbing a gold necklace in Chhattisgarh's Durg district. The incident, captured on CCTV cameras installed inside the house, took place in the Nevai police station area.

According to police, the accused, identified as Vibhanshu Mahobia, a native of Mandla district in Madhya Pradesh, entered the residence with his face covered using a cloth. Armed with a sharp-edged weapon, he allegedly threatened the elderly couple and demanded cash and jewellery before fleeing with a gold necklace.

Incident Captured on CCTV

The CCTV footage of the robbery has surfaced, showing the masked accused entering the house while the elderly man was resting on a sofa. The video also captures the accused threatening the elderly woman with a knife, demanding valuables, and dragging her back when she attempted to move outside the house.

After snatching the gold necklace from the victim, the accused fled from the scene.

Victims Were Alone at Home

Police said the complaint was lodged by V. Kumar (59), a resident of Flat No. 109, Shubhkamna Heights, Pragati Nagar. Kumar told investigators that he was at work on July 4 when the family's domestic helper, Girja Yadav, informed him over the phone that an unknown person had entered his house where his elderly parents were alone.

Based on the complaint, Nevai police registered a robbery case and launched an investigation.

Accused Traced Through Technical Evidence

Investigators inspected the crime scene, questioned witnesses and analysed technical evidence, including CCTV footage, to identify the suspect.

Police later arrested Vibhanshu Mahobia, who was staying in a rented accommodation in the Hospital Sector area under Bhilai Nagar police station limits.

Bike, Weapon and Clothes Seized

During interrogation, police recovered the motorcycle allegedly used in the crime, the sharp-edged weapon and the clothes worn by the accused during the robbery.

The accused was produced before a local court and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.

Probe Continues

Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused had entered the house with the intention of committing robbery. Police are also verifying whether he has any previous criminal record or involvement in similar offences.

The investigation is continuing.

Miscreants allegedly dressed as Blinkit delivery boys looted a bag containing about ₹40 lakh in cash from employees of a businessman in Ratlam’s Station Road area. Police have registered a case of robbery and criminal intimidation and are examining CCTV footage to identify the accused.

The incident took place on 29 June around 3 pm in the City Sarai locality. According to the complaint, the money was part of cash collected from liquor sales between 25 and 28 June, which had been sent for safe keeping because banks were closed from 26 to 28 June.

The complainant, Manish Patwa, told police that the amount belonged to his friend Gaurav Sharma, who runs liquor contracts in Ratlam. After the cash was counted, Patwa asked his employees Faridn and Firuz to carry it upstairs in a black bag. At that moment, one accused, wearing a Blinkit uniform and with his face covered, allegedly threatened Faridn, snatched the bag and fled.

Police said the accused escaped on a scooter with an accomplice waiting outside and headed toward Gayatri Talkies. Faridn and Firuz chased them, but the men managed to get away. The entire episode was captured on nearby CCTV cameras, and investigators are now reviewing the footage.

According to station in-charge Jitendra Jadon, the complaint was filed only after Gaurav Sharma returned from Ujjain. Police are still searching for the suspects.

The report also says there are unverified suggestions that the victim, Manish Patwa, may be linked to hawala business, but there has been no official confirmation. It is also being said that police had received information about the robbery on the same day, though no formal complaint had been filed then.

Two young men were seriously injured in Bilaspur after a group of attackers allegedly first tried to run them over with a pickup vehicle and then chased and assaulted them with pipes and sticks in what police believe was an old-rivalry attack.

The incident took place late on 26 June in the Sarkanda police station area, and a video of the attack has since gone viral on social media. The injured youths were taken to SIMS Hospital for treatment, while police have registered a case and begun investigating the matter.

According to the complaint, Nikhil Dhruv, who lives in Lingiadih and works in दूध वितरण, said he was standing on the terrace of his house around 11 pm when he noticed his friends Aditya Maht and Ravi Gandharv standing near Dilip Patil’s house close to Apollo Chowk.

He said a pickup vehicle came speeding from the Chingrajpara side and hit Aditya and Ravi, causing them to fall on the road. As soon as the vehicle stopped, attackers identified as Bandya, Bauwa and their associates allegedly stepped out and began abusing the victims over an old dispute.

The assault escalated quickly. The attackers allegedly chased the two youths and beat them repeatedly with a fibre pipe and sticks. Another accused, Aman Naidu, reportedly arrived in a car and joined the attack, threatening to kill the victims along with his associates.

Friends of the injured youths rushed them to SIMS Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Nikhil Rakesh later went to the police station and filed a report. Based on the complaint, Sarkanda police have booked Bandya, Bauwa, Aman Naidu and two others.

Police said CCTV footage shows around 8 to 10 attackers armed with pipes and sticks taking part in the assault. ASP City Pankaj Patel said the incident appears to have been carried out due to a long-standing rivalry, and five people, including a minor, have been arrested so far.

The case has once again raised concerns about street violence, revenge attacks and the use of vehicles as weapons during personal disputes. Authorities are now examining the viral footage and other evidence to identify all those involved.

Three people were killed early Sunday after an unidentified vehicle ran them over while they were out on their morning walk in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district. The driver fled the scene after the crash, and police are now trying to identify the vehicle.

The accident took place on the Bharatmala road passing through Dongri-Korbi village in Baloda police station limits, between 4 am and 5 am. The victims were identified as Dilharan Das Vaishnav, 62, Kedar Yadav, 52, and Santu Yadav, 70.

Police said all three were friends and used to go for morning walks together. Vaishnav had retired as a branch manager from a cooperative society, while Yadav and Santu Yadav were farmers. The three had walked about 2 km from home when they were hit.

Their bodies were found scattered across the road, around 5 to 10 metres apart, after the impact. Locals gathered at the spot soon after the incident and informed the police.

Officers reached the scene, completed the inquest and sent the bodies for post-mortem. Police are now scanning CCTV footage from the surrounding area to trace the vehicle and identify the driver. A case has been registered, and search teams are working to track down the accused.

The tragedy has once again raised concerns about road safety on high-speed corridors, especially during early-morning hours when visibility is low and traffic is sparse. Residents said the victims were part of a regular walking group and had no reason to expect such a fatal crash.

A professional burglary gang has been systematically targeting vacant homes across Bilaspur's Sarkanda and Mopka areas, and CCTV footage of their operation has revealed just how calculated and organised they are. Wearing masks, gloves, and carrying weapons, the gang broke into the locked home of an engineer who had been away in Bihar for eight days, made off with approximately Rs 4 lakh worth of gold and silver jewellery, and then — in a detail that underlines their experience — locked the door behind them on the way out so that no immediate suspicion would be raised. SSP Rajnesh Singh personally visited the crime scene and has ordered police to identify and arrest the accused on the basis of CCTV evidence without delay.

The Main Incident: Engineer's Home Targeted

The primary case involves Nitesh Ranjan, an engineer residing in Vivekanand Residency colony near Chilhati Mod in the Mopka area. Nitesh had locked his home and left for Aurangabad in Bihar eight days before the robbery. On March 15, colony residents noticed something was wrong and informed his brother Ghanshyam Kumar, who lives in the same colony. When Ghanshyam reached the house, he found the door had been cut open and the central lock broken. Nitesh, checking the CCTV footage remotely on his mobile phone from Bihar, confirmed that gold and silver jewellery worth approximately Rs 4 lakh had been stolen. A precise inventory of the total loss will only be possible once he returns home.

The CCTV footage is damning in its clarity. The gang members can be seen moving with practised efficiency — entering the property within minutes of breaking the lock, locating the valuables, and then, remarkably, locking the door again from outside before leaving. This last detail is the hallmark of an experienced, methodical gang that understands how to delay discovery and buy itself time.

A Pattern Across the Neighbourhood

This is far from an isolated incident. More than half a dozen homes in the Sarkanda and Mopka areas have been hit in a series of thefts, and investigators now believe the same gang is responsible for all of them. In the same Vivekanand Residency colony, resident Vinda Dhuri returned home on March 15 after her family had been away since March 3 to find the front door latch broken and silver anklets, rings, toe rings, and around Rs 5,000 in cash missing from her cupboard.

In another near-miss in Vivekanand Nagar Phase-2 in Mopka, a neighbour named Chandu Sahu called homeowner Omprakash Dhilhare late on the night of March 14 after hearing sounds of breaking and tearing from inside the locked house next door — the home of Dhilhare's brother-in-law Punnilal Tandon, which had been empty for a long time. When Dhilhare arrived, he saw a young man fleeing the house with a sack. The intruder escaped in the darkness, but inspection of the house revealed that around ten water taps had been stolen from the bathroom and kitchen — suggesting the gang takes anything it can carry.

In Bahtrai's Deendayal Awas Colony, the home of Umesh Kumar Patel was broken into, his cupboard forced open, and a mangalsutra weighing 23.6 grams, Rs 15,000 in cash, and other jewellery taken. Locks of two adjacent homes were also found broken.

Bikes Also Being Stolen Across the Area

The gang's activities, or those of associated criminals operating in the same zone, also appear to include motorcycle theft. Teacher Ashish Bandhe lost his Honda Shine from Arpa Vihar Colony. Vikas Joshi's Super Splendor vanished from behind Tulsi Palace. Mohan Kumar Verma's Pulsar was stolen from outside a wedding venue in Bahtrai. The frequency of these incidents in a concentrated area points to organised criminal activity rather than random opportunism.

Police Link to High Court Colony Robberies

Investigators suspect that this same gang was behind a series of thefts at the High Court residential complex in Chakrabhatha a few months ago. Similar incidents in the Civil Lines area reinforce this theory. Reports also indicate that the gang had struck in Rajnandgaon district just the day before the Bilaspur incidents, suggesting they are mobile, inter-district criminals who move between cities to avoid being pinned down by any single police jurisdiction.

SSP Takes Personal Charge

Taking cognisance of the mounting incidents, SSP Rajnesh Singh visited the crime scene himself alongside Sarkanda TI Pradeep Arya and SCCU in-charge Topsingh Navrang. He directed officers to use CCTV footage to identify the suspects and ensure their arrest at the earliest. Patrolling in the Sarkanda-Mopka area has been significantly increased, and several suspects have already been taken into custody for questioning.

For residents of these colonies, the message from this gang's operational style is deeply unsettling — they are not opportunists who stumble upon unlocked doors. They watch, they plan, they come equipped, and they clean up after themselves. Until they are caught, no locked and empty home in this part of Bilaspur can be considered safe.