Netflix series Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, helmed by actor Karan Tacker and created by Neeraj Pandey, is garnering positive response from audiences and critics alike. The show is based on a chapter in the life of IPS officer Amit Lodha, which he documented in the book The Bihar Diaries. But instead of celebrating the success of the web series, IPS officer Lodha is courting controversy.
He was suspended after corruption charges were registered against him and for allegedly entering into a business deal with Netflix while in government office.
According to an official statement, Lodha is accused of using his position for financial gains by signing a deal with streaming platform and production house Friday Storytellers while he was in the position of an IPS officer. The statement said that during the investigation by the department, the allegations of corruption against Lodha were found to be true, following which a case was registered by the Special Vigilance Squad on December 7 under Sections 120B and 168 of the IPC along with the Prevention of Corruption Act sections of the IPC Act.
Here’s everything you need to know about Amit Lodha:
Amit Lodha looked up to men in uniform from his youth
Born in Rajasthan, Amit Lodha has always adored men in uniform. His maternal grandfather was an IAS officer. But being a shy person, he never thought that he would ever become a police officer and wear the Khakee uniform.
Amit Lodha cracked the IIT entrance exam in the first attempt
Amit focused on academics and cleared the IIT entrance exam in the first attempt. But his journey to IIT was not great. Talking about his experience, he told BetterIndia“I failed at everything. I suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts. I thought I was the unluckiest person in the world. My grades were the worst and my interpersonal relationships were bad. My friends liked me for the goodness of my heart. But even they stayed away from me because I was quiet and I saw it as weird. Never invited to parties or first choice for room sharing. I could never fit in.”
Experience at IIT led Amit Lodha to attempt the UPSC exam
After an unpleasant experience at IIT, Amit appeared for the UPSC examination and cleared that too. He became an IPS officer in 1988 and soon won the hearts of the people because of the personal connection he maintained with them. He became SP Nalanda when he was 25 and after that, SSP of Muzaffarpur.
His tenure in Rajasthan
Before being posted to Bihar, Amit had developed a strong connection with the people of Rajasthan. He told them to contact him on his landline number whenever they felt the need.
The fall of Amit Lodha
There was a time when Amit Lodha was hoping for a promotion but his hopes were dashed after the change of government. During his TED Talk, he said: “The government changed and I was relegated to a place where there were no bodyguards, no bungalows and no salary. I began to feel as if all my fans had abandoned me. I was very frustrated and it spilled over into my family life.’
What made Amit Lodha a national hero?
During his days of service in Bihar, Amit caught “Gabbara Singh of Sheikhpura”. He broke up the Mahto gang, which was accused of several murders, including the murders of two police officers during their jail break. It took Amit three months and after an intense cat-and-mouse chase across three states, he managed to nab the dreaded gangster.
Amit Lodha took the honors
During his service, he was also awarded the President’s Police Meritorious Service Medal, the Police Medal for Valor, and the Homeland Security Medal.
Amit Lodha Books
Amit’s first book Bihar Diaries (2018) chronicled his hunt for the dreaded gangster Maht (although he did not name him in his book). The book became a hit and inspired a Netflix series. He also wrote another book Life in the Uniform which was released in 2021. It described Amit’s journey to UPSC.
