Madhya Pradesh police tried a different tactic by going out of their usual way to track down a most-wanted criminal. While most of the time the reward amount is in thousands or lakhs, this time the police department announced a reward of Rs 1, yes, just one rupee to catch Dhanraj Lodhi, an alleged mastermind of an illegal liquor smuggling racket.
The unusual move has triggered widespread discussion, both online and on the ground.
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Illegal liquor seizure and absconding mastermind
The incident dates back to January 9, when Narsinghpur police seized around 2,200 bottles of illegal liquor from a Thar vehicle. Two smugglers, Surendra Lodhi and Selim Khan, were arrested on the spot. However, Dhanraj Lodhi, identified as the main mastermind behind the racket, managed to flee.
Despite repeated searches, police failed to trace him. Following this, Superintendent of Police Rishikesh Meena recently announced the symbolic Re 1 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Police explain the symbolic reward
According to the police, the reward is not meant to be financial. Officials said the announcement was aimed at drawing public attention and creating psychological pressure on the absconding accused. By declaring a reward of Re 1, the police intended to signal that the accused holds negligible social value in their view.
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The announcement has since spread rapidly across the district, making the fugitive a major topic of discussion among locals. Police have assured that the identity of any informant will be kept completely confidential. They have urged anyone with information about Dhanraj Lodhi’s whereabouts to come forward, stating that the symbolic reward will be given accordingly.
