In a disturbing breach of security, three individuals — including two minors — were arrested on Thursday evening after attempting to enter the official residence of Moradabad Municipal Commissioner Divyanshu Patel, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer known for his anti-corruption stance. The accused allegedly issued threats against the officer in what officials are calling an act of retaliation tied to a previous run-in with local authorities.
A Calculated Act of Intimidation
The incident unfolded around 5 p.m. when four individuals appeared at the front gate of Patel’s official bungalow in Moradabad’s Civil Lines area. According to the home guard on duty, the group demanded to meet the commissioner and warned that they had come “to teach him a lesson.” When denied entry, they fled the scene — but not for long.
Later that evening, three of the men returned on a motorcycle and attempted to breach the compound through the back entrance. Alert security personnel intercepted them and handed them over to police. An FIR has since been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal intimidation and unlawful trespassing.
One of the arrested has been identified as Ahmed Raza, 22, a resident of the neighboring district of Sambhal. The remaining two are minors. Authorities are examining CCTV footage to track down a possible fourth accomplice who fled the scene.
Tensions Linked to Past Crackdown
Sources familiar with the matter said the men had been previously reprimanded by Commissioner Patel after being caught stealing iron signboards from a municipal beautification project. Rather than pressing charges at the time, the officer had opted for a stern warning — a gesture that now seems to have emboldened rather than deterred them.
Speaking anonymously, a senior municipal official said, “This appears to be a premeditated act of vendetta. The officer is widely respected for his zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and misuse of public resources.”
A Pattern of Threats
This is not the first time IAS officer Divyanshu Patel has been targeted. During his earlier postings in Unnao and Barabanki, Patel reportedly received threats for taking strong action against irregularities. In one notable instance, BJP Member of Parliament Sakshi Maharaj had to publicly demand enhanced security for the officer, citing threats from political and criminal elements displeased with Patel’s enforcement of transparency measures.
Following the latest incident, local authorities have initiated a review of the security arrangements at official residences of senior officers across the district. Three individuals, including two minors, were arrested for attempting to intimidate IAS officer Divyanshu Patel at his Moradabad residence. The officer, known for his anti-corruption efforts, had previously warned the accused for theft—an act believed to have triggered this retaliatory threat.