Bihar cadre Indian Police Service officer Amit Lodha, who inspired the recently released Netflix series Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, has landed in legal trouble. Reportedly, he was suspended after a case was registered against him on charges of corruption and for allegedly entering into a commercial agreement with Netflix while serving as an IPS officer.
According to a leading daily's report, a First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against IPS Lodha under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code’s Sections 120 (B) related to criminal conspiracy and 168 (public servant unlawfully engaging in trade). Reportedly, the FIR stated that Lodha is not an established story writer nor was he authorised to write a book and use it for commercial purposes.
As per the FIR, "Ignoring these facts, in order to earn illicitly and to convert the black money into white he used a book ‘Bihar Diary’ written by him for [the] production of a web series ‘Khakee the Bihar chapter’ by resorting to illegal activities."
The FIR reportedly mentioned that Friday Story Teller Private Limited produced Khakee: The Bihar Chapter at a reported cost of 64 crores. It stated, "The expenditure is being borne by Los Gatos Production Service India LLP, which is the legal representative of Netflix in India. It is alleged that on November 2, 2018, there was an acquisition agreement between Lodha and Friday Story Teller Pvt Limited for 1 only, whereas the records show that the accused received 12372 on August 18, 202...from the production company."
According to the daily's report, the FIR also indicated that there was another agreement between the production house and IPS Lodha's wife Koumudi. Reportedly, she."received 38.25 lakh in her account between March 7-September 13, 2021."
The FIR said Koumidi received Rs. 11.25 lakh even before the agreement was signed on November 2, 2018. "There was a heavy and regular transaction of money from the account of Friday Story Teller to Koumudi Lodha. The timing of agreements signed and side flow of funds into the account of Koumudi Lodha indicate the ulterior motive of Amit Lodha to give legitimate cover to his ill-gotten wealth," the FIR said.
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It was mentioned in the FIR that, "...Lodha, being a public servant, illegally entered into private/commercial activities with a production house and others to earn 4962372 till date by corrupt and illegal means, which he cannot justify as [a] public servant. During [the] investigation, more assets acquired may be unearthed. Scrutiny of available government records available in [the] public domain reveals that the accused has acquired huge movable/immovable property.”
Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, based on IPS Lodha's 2018 book Bihar Diaries, premiered on Netflix on November 25. Set in Bihar, Khakee: The Bihar Chapter is a crime drama tracing the world of crime based on true events from the first half of the 2000s. Karan Tacker played the role of IPS Lodha whereas Avinash Tiwary was signed to play a gangster.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
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