Kanpur hotel case: High Court summons Police Commissioner over alleged police role

Police presence at site under judicial scrutiny

A Kanpur hotel looting case has moved to the highest level of city police accountability, with the Allahabad High Court directing the Commissioner of Police, Kanpur Nagar, to appear personally before it on November 26, 2026. The direction came after the court noted a prima facie involvement of police personnel in the alleged ransacking of Hotel Negi Grand and questioned the manner in which the investigation had been handled.

The division bench of Justices Ajay Bhanot and Divesh Chandra Samant was hearing a criminal miscellaneous writ petition filed by Preeti Bajpai. The proceedings relate to allegations that the hotel property was damaged and articles were removed after a wall was demolished. The court has not recorded a final finding on the criminal liability of any individual, but its order places the conduct of the police and the investigation under direct judicial examination.

“Since the matter requires urgent attention at the highest level of the police authorities, the Commissioner of Police, Kanpur Nagar, shall appear in person on the next date of listing along with a personal affidavit,”

The direction requires the police chief to attend the next hearing with a personal affidavit. Such an appearance will bring the city's senior police leadership directly before the bench while the court examines the allegations and the investigation record. The order followed the court's consideration of material contained in the case diary, including references to police personnel being present at the site when the property was allegedly being dismantled and looted.

Case diary refers to CCTV footage and videos

During the hearing, the bench examined an extract from the case diary dated April 16, 2026. The record referred to CCTV footage and videos made by people present at the spot. According to the case diary, a JCB machine was used to demolish a wall of the hotel, after which a crowd gathered at the premises.

The material placed before the court allegedly showed Vivek Gupta, Ravikant Bajpai, Brijesh Singh and Yogesh Singh entering the hotel along with associates after the wall had been brought down. The case diary also recorded alleged damage to several parts of the property and the removal of articles from inside the premises.

• The alleged damage included windows, doors, cupboards and television sets.
• CCTV cameras and digital video recorders were also reported to have been damaged.
• The record said articles were allegedly taken away from the hotel after the boundary wall was demolished.
• The named persons were allegedly seen taking possession of the hotel lawn, according to the case diary.

The case diary further stated that police personnel were seen moving around the spot during the incident. This reference became central to the court's observation about possible police involvement. The court also questioned the investigating officer's handling of the matter, making the investigation process itself an important part of the continuing proceedings.

Additional police officer impleaded as respondent

The proceedings widened on October 24, when the court allowed Preeti Bajpai to implead Kapil Dev Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kanpur Nagar, as a respondent. The permission followed a supplementary affidavit that alleged his direct involvement in the incident. The allegation remains part of the proceedings and is yet to be finally adjudicated.

The next hearing on November 26 will therefore bring together the court's concerns over the alleged events at Hotel Negi Grand, the contents of the case diary, the role of police personnel seen at the location and the conduct of the investigation. The Commissioner of Police's personal appearance and affidavit are expected to provide the bench with the police department's account of the matter. Until the court reaches a final conclusion, the allegations against the individuals and police personnel remain subject to the judicial process.