Sunil Kumar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987 (age 37–38) Etah, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Occupation(s) | Jouranlist and activist |
| Children | 2 |
Sunil Kumar (born c. 1987) is an Indian journalist and Right to Information (RTI) activist from Etah, Uttar Pradesh. A Dalit, he has used RTI queries and investigative journalism to expose corruption, including police misconduct, since around 2012. In 2016, Kumar was arrested and falsely charged with molesting a minor under the POCSO Act after releasing a video of police taking bribes from cattle smugglers, leading to his public humiliation, three weeks in jail, and an eight-year legal battle that ended in his acquittal in 2024. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) later deemed the case a fabrication and ordered compensation.
Kumar was born in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, around 1987. He holds a Bachelor's degree in arts. [1]
Kumar has worked as a journalist since 2004, including for a local news channel in Uttar Pradesh. His reporting has focused on exposing corruption and government malpractices. [2]
Kumar has been an RTI activist for over a decade, filing queries to assist the poor and marginalized in resolving issues with government authorities. In 2014, he lodged a complaint with the NHRC regarding the alleged custodial death of labourer Balak Ram at Aliganj police station in Etah, who died in custody after being beaten in connection with a robbery case. The post-mortem indicated death due to external injuries, but police claimed public involvement rather than custodial torture. No chargesheets were filed against Balak Ram despite his name appearing in four FIRs, and the NHRC ordered a probe by the Uttar Pradesh Crime Branch in January 2023, highlighting discrepancies in the police narrative. [3]
Kumar has stated that his activism is driven by a commitment to punish the guilty and help the helpless, vowing to continue despite threats.
On 18 June 2016, Kumar conducted a sting operation and filmed two police constables at Jaithra police station in Etah accepting bribes from vehicles transporting cattle, an activity banned under Uttar Pradesh's cow slaughter laws at the time. The video went viral on social media, prompting the suspension of the officers.
Four days later, on 22 June, a 16-year-old girl filed a complaint accusing Kumar of molestation and attempted rape. Jaithra SHO Kailash Chandra Dubey arrested him without prior notice, despite the charges not requiring immediate custody. Kumar was handcuffed, forced to eat while restrained, and paraded through a crowded market to the court, during which police allegedly made casteist slurs and told bystanders he had tried to rape a minor. He spent 21 days in Etah district jail before securing bail on 16 July. [1]
Kumar filed a complaint with the NHRC in August 2016, submitting evidence including the sting video, newspaper clippings, and a CD. In December 2021, the NHRC ruled the case a "frame-up" in retaliation for his exposé, ordering the Uttar Pradesh government to pay ₹200,000 (US$2,400) in interim relief recovered from the salaries of three officers: sub-inspector Madan Murari and constables Samar Singh and Harishankar Sharma—and directed disciplinary action against them, including the then SSP and investigation officer. The compensation was credited to his account in March 2022. [1] [4] [2]
A special POCSO court in Etah acquitted Kumar of all charges on 7 June 2024, after an eight-year trial, observing that he had been falsely implicated. The court also ordered proceedings against the complainant. Kumar described the ordeal as the "biggest" of his life, noting the reputational damage and mental stress to his family, and plans to seek further compensation, potentially up to the Supreme Court. [1] [5]
Kumar is married and has two minor children. He resides in Mohalla Nehru Nagar, Jaithra, Etah. [1]