Six ‘Evergreen’ Witnesses and Over 150 FIRs: Allegations of Fake Witnesses Rock MP’s Mauganj Police

Rewa/Mauganj: A major controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh’s Mauganj district after allegations surfaced that police repeatedly used the same six individuals as “official witnesses” in hundreds of criminal cases. The revelations emerged following a complaint by RTI activist Kunj Bihari Tiwari and an examination of digital records under the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).

An analysis of FIRs registered at Lauri and Naigarhi police stations shows a striking pattern: the same six names appearing again and again as witnesses in more than 150 FIRs, raising serious questions about the credibility of police investigations and the alleged fabrication of cases.

Former SHO Accused of Misuse of Power

At the center of the controversy is Jagdish Singh Thakur, the former station house officer (SHO) of both Lauri and Naigarhi police stations. According to the complaint, during his tenure he allegedly misused his authority by registering a large number of questionable FIRs and routinely naming a select group of individuals as witnesses to “legitimize” police actions on paper.

RTI activist Tiwari claims that these preferred witnesses were repeatedly used to facilitate routine police procedures, justify arrests, and allegedly enable corruption. Digital FIR data accessed through CCTNS reportedly confirms the repeated use of the same names across numerous cases.

One Witness Followed the Officer Across Transfers

Among the six so-called “evergreen witnesses,” one individual—Amit Kushwaha—is alleged to have appeared as a witness in hundreds of cases and even continued to do so after the officer was transferred between police stations. Tiwari first raised the issue in a police complaint in 2022 and later submitted a detailed complaint along with documentary evidence in December 2025.

SP Takes Action

Acting on the allegations, Mauganj Superintendent of Police Dilip Soni removed Jagdish Singh Thakur from the post of SHO of Naigarhi police station on Sunday. “We are conducting a detailed inquiry into the complaint. The complainant has shared details of 145 FIRs in which common witnesses were named,” the SP said, adding that this was not the sole reason behind the action taken against the officer.

Witnesses Claim Ignorance

Several of the named witnesses have denied being present during police actions. Dinesh Kushwaha, a vegetable vendor, said, “I signed as a witness in only one or two cases where I was actually present. I was not a witness in so many other cases. The police used my name without my knowledge.”

Another alleged witness, Rahul Vishwakarma, a driver by profession, stated, “I was not present during police operations. I signed papers only after the accused had already been arrested and brought to the police station. I have not signed as a witness in so many cases.”

Allegations Go Back Decades

RTI activist Tiwari claims the issue is far more deep-rooted. “I examined FIRs spanning more than a year and found common names in around 200 cases. When I scanned records dating back to the year 2000, I found the same names appearing in nearly 1,000 FIRs,” he alleged. Tiwari also claimed that he himself was a victim, alleging that the same police officer had falsely implicated him in a case.

The revelations have sparked serious concerns about police accountability and the integrity of criminal investigations in the region. A detailed probe is now underway, and its findings are expected to have far-reaching implications for policing practices in Mauganj district.