These days, web series Khakee: The Bihar Chapter is running to rave reviews on Netflix, also having secured a position among the top 10 programmes on the OTT platform. The plot of Khakee… is based on Bihar police officer Amit Lodha, who has now become a household name nationwide.
But with the plot unfolding, someone in the audience assumed it was 100% real with no creative licence exercised and filed a case against Lodha for allegedly using his government position for financial gains. After coming under the scanner of the Special Vigilance Unit, Bihar Police suspended him.
Khakee ‘stained’
The web series Khakee… is based on Lodha’s book Bihar Diaries, which narrates his real-life story of arresting Samant Pratap, one of the most dreaded gangsters in the state, notorious for extortion, kidnapping and murders. The complainant has accused the 48-year-old police officer of allegedly taking money for the Netflix show.
According to the complaint filed by the Economic Offences Wing of the Bihar Police, Amit Lodha signed a deal with the production house, Friday Story Teller, while he was still serving as an IPS officer. “Amit Lodha is not an established story writer neither he was authorised nor permitted to write a book and use same for commercial purpose,” states the complaint.
The unit alleged that Lodha received Rs 12,372 from the production house while his wife Koumudi received Rs 38.25 lakh in her account. The FIR filed against the police officer states there was an agreement between the production house and Koumudi to facilitate the “transaction of illicitly acquired wealth” when her husband was posted as inspector general of police in Gaya.
The Special Vigilance Unit of Bihar registered a case against Lodha on 7 December under Sections 120B and 168 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A day before the complaint was filed against him, the IPS officer had tweeted, “Sometimes life can throw you the most difficult challenges, particularly when you are right. It’s during these times your strength of character is reflected. Need your prayers and support to come out victorious.”
Lodha’s rise to fame
Hailing from Jaipur, Amit Lodha studied at IIT Delhi but his time at the institution was not pleasant, he recalled in the course of an interview. He claimed to suffer from an inferiority complex as he could not blend into the IITian gentry.
Leaving IIT, he sat for the UPSC examination, cleared it and became an IPS officer in 1988. He quickly rose to prominence as a cop because of his mass connect.
Having served a while in Rajasthan, he was transferred to Bihar where he gained popularity among the people. He asked those in trouble to call him directly on his landline number.
Lodha became famous after the “Gabbar Singh of Sheikhpura” case surfaced. He chased the notorious Mahto gang (with ringleaders Pintu Mahto and Ashok Mahto) accused of various crimes like the murder of 15 people and breaking into a prison after killing two police officers.
Lodha received the renowned President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service, the Police Medal for Gallantry and the Internal Security Medal for different successful police operations.
On Netflix
Khakee… is a thriller that traces the world of crime based on Lodha’s book Bihar Diaries: The True Story of How Bihar’s Most Dangerous Criminal Was Caught. The Neeraj Pandey production features Karan Tacker as the police officer. Avinash Tiwary essays the gangster.
Backed by Shital Bhatia via Friday Storytellers, the series is directed by Bhav Dhulia. Some of the other actors in the show are Jatin Sarna, Ashutosh Rana, Nikita Dutta, Ravi Kishan, and Abhimanyu Singh in supporting roles.
According to the website Film Companion, three million viewers watched the Netflix show in its first week. It continues to be in the global top 10 list.
Meanwhile, Lodha’s second book Life in the Uniform was published in 2021. In it, he recounted his journey of becoming a police officer.
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