SHILLONG: Outgoing Director General of Police (DGP) LR Bishnoi has petitioned the High Court of Meghalaya to dismiss an FIR lodged against him by suspended police officer Gabriel K Iangrai.
In his petition, DGP Bishnoi also said that the matter has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which operates independently of his authority.
The move to seek judicial intervention comes after the FIR was acted upon by police without a preliminary inquiry, prompting Bishnoi to question the legitimacy and motives behind the charges.
The FIR accuses Bishnoi of altering the registration number of his official vehicle, among other allegations.
According to a Shillong-based news portal, the case, registered at Shillong’s Sadar Police Station under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 467 (forgery), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act, has raised significant controversy.
The FIR was lodged by Iangrai, who faced disciplinary action during Bishnoi’s tenure.
It adds that Bishnoi had argued that Iangrai’s allegations are motivated by personal vendetta, asserting that the suspended officer has no grounds to claim victimhood.
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Bishnoi maintains that the charges are baseless and that the FIR should be dismissed as it fails to meet legal standards.
Earlier, Iangrai’s FIR, filed on May 9, accuses DGP Bishnoi of a series of violations, including “criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and cheating”.
The complaint specifically alleges that Bishnoi misused his authority by changing the number plate of a government vehicle.
The FIR details that the vehicle, a minivan requisitioned from the Assam government, was improperly registered with a fraudulent number plate assigned to a sedan.
Further complicating the matter, Iangrai claims that the luxury vehicle in question, valued at nearly Rs 40 lakh, significantly exceeds the permissible cost limit for the DGP’s official use, which is set at Rs 12 lakh.
He also noted that the Assistant Inspector General-A failed to complete the vehicle’s registration process due to missing documentation.
As the high court prepares to review the petition, the case has drawn widespread attention, highlighting internal conflicts within the police department and raising questions about administrative procedures and accountability.
