Kanpur Police Reopen Land Grabbing and Extortion Cases Involving Journalist

The Kanpur Police have reopened investigations into two land grabbing and extortion cases involving TV journalist Avneesh Dixit. These cases, initially filed in 2021 and 2023, were previously closed after Dixit received a clean chit. Fresh complaints have led to the reopening of the cases under Section 173(8) of the CrPC.

The Kanpur Police have reopened investigations into two land grabbing and extortion cases involving TV journalist Avneesh Dixit, officials confirmed on Saturday. Dixit was recently arrested on similar charges in another case, prompting the reevaluation of previous investigations.

The reopened cases, initially lodged at the Colonelganj and Babupurwa police stations in 2021 and 2023, had been closed after Dixit received a clean chit. However, fresh complaints from the original complainants have led to a renewed focus on these cases, bringing them back under scrutiny.

'The complainants informed us they were threatened by the accused during the initial investigations,' Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Harish Chander told PTI. 'Based on these new complaints, the cases are now being reexamined under provisions of Section 173(8) of the CrPC,' Chander added.

Dixit's arrest on July 29 for allegedly grabbing government land worth over Rs 1,000 crore in Kanpur's Civil Lines area has further intensified the probe. Authorities are also looking to apprehend other accused individuals as the investigation progresses.

(With inputs from agencies.)