Latest news with #BeyondtheBadge
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
UP Police podcast highlights high profile probes
Lucknow: In a pioneering step toward transparency, public engagement and digital outreach, the Uttar Pradesh Police launched a rare crime-focused podcast series under its official audio platform, 'Beyond the Badge'.This new series marks a significant expansion of the podcast, aiming to highlight the meticulous investigative work of police officers in cracking some of the most sensational and complex crimes in the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The initiative stems from a directive issued by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who emphasised the need to publicise achievements, innovations and public service efforts of the police through modern and accessible platforms. In response, the 'Beyond the Badge' podcast was launched in January 2025. A rare format: What sets this new podcast series apart is its documentary-style narrative, focusing on real criminal cases investigated by the UP Police. Each episode features interviews with the officers who led these investigations, offering an in-depth look into how cases were solved using a combination of human intelligence, technical surveillance, forensic analysis and tireless groundwork. The first episode in the crime series dives into a massive ₹100-crore insurance fraud case unearthed in Sambhal district. The episode features IPS Officer Anukriti Sharma, Superintendent of Police (south Sambhal), who led the investigation that uncovered multiple organised crime syndicates operating across the region. Speaking on the podcast, SP Anukriti Sharma explains how these syndicates exploited govt health and insurance schemes by forging documents, manipulating Aadhaar data and bribing local agents such as ASHA workers, village secretaries and bank officials. The gangs would fraudulently issue insurance policies in the names of poor, illiterate or deceased individuals, open fake nominee bank accounts and claim the payouts after orchestrated deaths or by faking them. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "In some cases, they even insured dead individuals and later claimed they died again to obtain benefits," said Sharma. "There were also instances where young men were insured for crores of rupees and then murdered to claim the insurance." The episode outlines how the UP Police used data analytics, technical surveillance and meticulous coordination with insurance companies and banks to track the scam. Several key arrests were made, and links to a wider network operating in multiple districts were uncovered. A public call for vigilance:Through the podcast, SP Sharma also issues a strong appeal to citizens, urging them to avoid handing over Aadhaar, PAN cards, thumbprints, or other personal documents without full verification. She cautions people to apply for any govt scheme only through official channels and to remain alert to suspicious activities, such as individuals who suddenly become wealthy or show unexplained behaviour. "If you see something unusual in your community—be it suspicious deaths, sudden wealth, or coercion—report it to the police immediately," she advises. "These crimes thrive in silence. Community awareness is our first line of defence." A new face of police communication: The crime podcast series is a landmark initiative for any Indian law enforcement agency. By using storytelling as a tool, UP Police aims to build transparency, increase public trust, and educate citizens about modern policing techniques and crime trends. Episodes of the 'Beyond the Badge' podcast are available on popular streaming platforms and the official UP Police channels. The department plans to release future episodes covering cybercrime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and other high-stakes investigations from across the state. This initiative not only humanises the police force but also offers the public a rare look at the complexity, risks and dedication involved in solving real-life crimes.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Beyond the Badge' podcast: UP Police launches new series to share investigative breakthroughs
Real stories from the officers who cracked Uttar Pradesh's most chilling crimes are now coming straight from the source. The state police has rolled out a new crime series under its podcast 'Beyond the Badge', bringing listeners face-to-face with the investigations behind major cases. The latest series opens with the Sambhal insurance fraud worth over ₹100 crore, where a gang is accused of murdering people after taking out insurance policies in their names. In the matter, as many as 15 FIRs were registered at various police stations of different districts and at least 40 accused were arrested so far. Later, the central agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) also came in to probe the case, suspecting major money laundering was involved in the matter. According to a press release issued by the UP Police headquarters on Saturday, the initiative is aimed at giving the public an insight into how the police force works behind the scenes and raising awareness about various types of crimes and their modus operandi. The inaugural episode highlights a recently busted insurance fraud in Sambhal, where a criminal network involving insurance agents, bank staff, ASHA workers, and village secretaries was exposed. The gang operated across 12 states in the country. The perpetrators allegedly opened bank accounts under the names of the nominees of these unsuspecting policyholders. After the victims' deaths, the gang would claim the insurance payouts. Notably, the case gained further attention due to its sinister details. In certain instances, young boys were reportedly murdered after insurance policies were fraudulently obtained in their names. At least four cases of people being murdered to claim their high-value insurance claims had surfaced in the police investigation IPS officer Anukriti Sharma, currently posted as additional superintendent of police (ASP), South Sambhal, played a crucial role in the investigation. In the podcast, she shared how her team combined human and technical intelligence to unravel the scam. In the podcast, she explained that the gang manipulated identification documents, including Aadhaar cards, altering names, ages, and other details to show a death record matching the insured individual. In some cases, they even used another person's corpse to falsely claim the death of the insured. 'Public cooperation is vital in curbing such crimes. If anyone notices irregularities or suspects fraud, they should report it to the authorities immediately,' she said in the podcast. The UP Police plans to release more episodes featuring other high-profile cases in the coming weeks. The podcast is available on the official social media platforms of the Uttar Pradesh Police.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Time of India
Ex-DGP revisits encounter with Dadua in podcast
Lucknow: Former UP DGP Arvind Kumar Jain , who played pivotal role in elimination of dreaded dacoit Dadua and arrest of Al-Qaeda terrorist Omar Saeed Sheikh , revisited both landmark operations in the latest episode of UP Police's official podcast, ' Beyond the Badge '. The 13th episode, hosted by SP (women & child security) Vrinda Shukla, offers a rare behind-the-scenes look into some of UP Police's most high-profile operations. He also recounted arrest of international terrorist Omar Sheikh, involved in hijacking of passengers on flight IC-814, during his posting in Ghaziabad as SSP. TNN Lucknow: Former UP DGP Arvind Kumar Jain, who played pivotal role in elimination of dreaded dacoit Dadua and arrest of Al-Qaeda terrorist Omar Saeed Sheikh, revisited both landmark operations in the latest episode of UP Police's official podcast, 'Beyond the Badge'. The 13th episode, hosted by SP (women & child security) Vrinda Shukla, offers a rare behind-the-scenes look into some of UP Police's most high-profile operations. He also recounted arrest of international terrorist Omar Sheikh, involved in hijacking of passengers on flight IC-814, during his posting in Ghaziabad as SSP. TNN
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
Ville Platte officer honored for dedicated service to local youth
VILLE PLATTE, la. (KLFY) — A Ville Platte police officer is honored with the Heart of Law Enforcement Award for her dedication of serving the youth in her community. Beyond the Badge is a non-profit organization that recognizes officers across the state for performing extraordinary acts of kindness in their communities as nominated by their peers of members of the community they serve. This year Sgt. Darrian Guillory of the Ville Platte Police Department was the one of the recipients of the Heart of Law Enforcement Award. In an interview with KLFY 10, Guillory said, 'I was absolutely shocked because I was never expecting to be awarded for pretty much just being myself. I've been doing that for the last two years. So, I didn't I didn't expect to be awarded for it.' Although she typically works with homicide cases, Guillory was recognized for her efforts with the youth in the city. Guillory organized events like back-to-school backpack giveaways and Christmas toy drives to help children enjoy the most celebrated times of the year. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Guillory told KLFY 10, 'Myself, some of my peers and some of the organizations in Ville Platte, we were able to donate over 400 backpacks and over 500 toys for Christmas. So just being able to have fun with the kids and see all those kids come in, that was a highlight for me.' Being recognized for pursuing her passion, Guillory says it keeps her motivated to continue putting on these events as she brings joy along with protection and service. Guillory said, 'It just added more fuel to the fire for me because I don't have any idea on who nominated me. It could have been a peer; it could have been somebody from the community. I have no idea. It makes me feel appreciated. So, it just lights a fire under me to want to keep doing it. So, I'm going to keep continuously doing it for this year and every year to come.' Eunice and Basile to star in two new upcoming movies KLFY News 10 honored with five awards LPSS works to save Pre-K French Immersion Program at Myrtle Elementary Ville Platte officer honored for dedicated service to local youth 90 Plus: Wilma Daigle Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘I am currently still the chief': Stony Mathis sets the record straight about alleged resignation
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — An erroneous news report Tuesday afternoon created some additional work for Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis and his staff. A Columbus news outlet posted online that Mathis had resigned. The news organization quickly changed the post, but not before the damage was done. The headline read: 'Columbus Chief of Police announces resignation.' Mathis, however, made it clear he's not going anywhere soon. 'I am currently still the chief here in Columbus,' said Mathis. He added he plans to remain chief until sometime next year. The confusion started when he did a CPD-produced podcast called 'Beyond the Badge.' During the show, Mathis stated his intentions were to leave the department sometime in 2026. He and a spokesperson for the department say they were never contacted about the online story before it published. Mathis found out about it through a call from a reporter, but what bothered him the most was the confusion it caused internally. 'I got I got a ton of phone calls from both my employees and citizens and even some counselors asking me, you know, Chief, what's going on? Are you resigning?' said Mathis. He's been on the job less than two years. Since arriving in Columbus there has been an uptick in morale and performance inside the Columbus Police Department. He was clear from the day he took the job he was a fixer and not the permanent solution. Mathis provided clarity with a single sentence, 'There's still a lot of work to be done.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
