Investigation opened after clip shows policeman asking for cash during passport verification
Ghaziabad police have initiated a formal probe after a video circulated on social media on August 14 that appears to show a policeman asking for money while conducting an address verification linked to a passport application. The clip, which drew widespread attention online, features an officer speaking with a man at his residence and, according to the recording, referring to a cash payment as a kind of commission.
ACP Suryabali Maurya said the officer seen in the video has been identified but is not currently posted at the Indirapuram police station. The officer also appears to be no longer attached to that station, and preliminary inquiries suggest the footage may be from an earlier period rather than recent weeks, the ACP added.
- The video surfaced on social media on August 14 and has since been widely shared.
- Amounts mentioned in the clip range from ₹2,000 to ₹4,000, according to the recording.
- Ghaziabad police have ordered a detailed inquiry to establish the date, place and circumstances of the recording and to verify the allegations.
"The policeman in the video has been identified, but he is no longer deputed at this police station. The video appears to be old," ACP Suryabali Maurya said.
The clip shows the officer discussing documentation with the man at his home and, during the exchange, allegedly mentioning a sum of money to be paid. In the footage the officer is heard asking for a cash amount described as a commission. The exchange appears to end abruptly when the officer notices the presence of a hidden camera and leaves without being shown taking any money.
What authorities are investigating
Police have outlined a limited set of questions they intend to resolve through the inquiry:
| Issue | What police aim to establish |
|---|---|
| Time and place of recording | Whether the video is recent and where it was filmed |
| Identity and posting | Confirmation of the officer's identity and his stationing at the time |
| Allegation verification | Whether any payment was demanded or accepted and by whom |
Officials said the probe will also seek to determine the circumstances that led to the recording and the chain of events following the interaction. So far, authorities have not released the name of the officer publicly, limiting statements to identification and posting status.
Local context and consequences
Passport applicants routinely require address verification as part of police clearance procedures. Incidents in which officials are accused of soliciting money during such verifications tend to attract intense public interest because they touch on routine civic transactions and perceptions of everyday corruption.
In recent years, law-and-order agencies in Uttar Pradesh have periodically moved to contain damage from viral clips by promising quick internal inquiries. Outcomes of such probes can range from departmental warnings to suspension and criminal action if evidence of bribery or extortion is established. Senior police officials in the district will now examine available records, witness statements and the original footage to determine whether departmental or criminal proceedings are warranted.
Meanwhile, social media posts about the clip include claims that other applicants have faced similar requests during verification visits, while some users said they completed verification without paying money. Police asked anyone with firsthand information or additional footage to come forward as part of the investigation.
As the inquiry proceeds, officials have emphasised that an identification does not equate to guilt and that the purpose of the probe is to establish the facts before initiating disciplinary or legal action.
Authorities did not give a timeline for the completion of the inquiry.
