"The present FIR is a classic case of clear abuse of authority and misuse of power by the accused herein who is a senior IPS Officer, well versed with the process of law and an insider to law enforcement machinery," said Special Judge Manu Goel Kharb of Dwarka Court in his order dated February 28.Observing that it was a classic case of abuse of authority, a Delhi court on Saturday rejected an anticipatory bail application filed by IPS officer Shankar Choudhary in connection with a case pertaining to unauthorised raids during a 2023 narcotics operation in Delhi and the subsequent illegal detention of suspects.“The present FIR is a classic case of clear abuse of authority and misuse of power by the accused herein who is a senior IPS Officer, well versed with the process of law and an insider to law enforcement machinery,” said Special Judge Manu Goel Kharb of Dwarka Court, Delhi in his order dated February 28.“…it is expected of a person of the rank of IPS to maintain integrity and honesty in public service, high ethical standards and discipline in discharge of his duties, but the applicant has failed to maintain transparency and accountability and conducted himself in a totally defiant manner,” he added.The Judge also said that since Choudhary was a high-ranking official, the possibility of tampering with evidence and influencing the investigation could not be ruled out.The case stems from an alleged illegal raid carried out by Choudhary, the then Superintendent of Police (Narcotics), Mizoram, in November 2023. A vigilance inquiry found that the IPS officer, while present in Delhi, allegedly carried out an illegal search and seizure of valuables without preparation of seizure memos. The inquiry also stated that several persons were kept in illegal custody for multiple days without formal arrest or production before a Magistrate.It was also alleged that Choudhary had demanded and received bribes and “facilitated” the release of a foreign national who was allegedly a key operative in an international narcotics trafficking network.The inquiry conducted by the then Mizoram government claimed that the IPS officer had fabricated the statements of arrested accused by “coercing” an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) to allegedly create a connection between four persons and Harrison, a Nigerian national.Story continues below this adMeanwhile, Choudhary argued in court that there was no statement from any police officer or independent witness confirming that he had ever extorted money. It was also argued that the statement of the Investigating Officer (IO) of the Mizoram Police, in whose presence the alleged raid was conducted, was never recorded during the inquiry.On the other hand, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Deepak Kumar, arguing on behalf of the State, contended that the allegations of illegal search were supported by CCTV footage showing the removal of a locker and two bags without a seizure memo.Nirbhay Thakur is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express who primarily covers district courts in Delhi and has reported on the trials of many high-profile cases since 2023. Professional Background Education: Nirbhay is an economics graduate from Delhi University. Beats: His reporting spans the trial courts, and he occasionally interviews ambassadors and has a keen interest in doing data stories. Specializations: He has a specific interest in data stories related to courts. Core Strength: Nirbhay is known for tracking long-running legal sagas and providing meticulous updates on high-profile criminal trials. Recent notable articles In 2025, he has written long form articles and two investigations. Along with breaking many court stories, he has also done various exclusive stories. 1) A long form on Surender Koli, accused in the Nithari serial killings of 2006. He was acquitted after spending 2 decades in jail. was a branded man. Deemed the “cannibal" who allegedly lured children to his employer’s house in Noida, murdered them, and “ate their flesh” – his actions cited were cited as evidence of human depravity at its worst. However, the SC acquitted him finding various lapses in the investigation. The Indian Express spoke to his lawyers and traced the 2 decades journey. 2) For decades, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has been at the forefront of the Government’s national rankings, placed at No. 2 over the past two years alone. It has also been the crucible of campus activism, its protests often spilling into national debates, its student leaders going on to become the faces and voices of political parties of all hues and thoughts. The Indian Express looked at all court cases spanning over two decades and did an investigation. 3) Investigation on the 700 Delhi riots cases. The Indian Express found that in 17 of 93 acquittals (which amounted to 85% of the decided cases) in Delhi riots cases, courts red-flag ‘fabricated’ evidence and pulled up the police. Signature Style Nirbhay’s writing is characterized by its procedural depth. He excels at summarizing 400-page chargesheets and complex court orders into digestible news for the general public. X (Twitter): @Nirbhaya99 ... Read More © The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:drugs