In a serious embarrassment for the Madhya Pradesh Police, videos of under-custody accused creating and sharing reels on social media have gone viral, raising alarming concerns over security lapses within the State’s law enforcement system.
The most recent video, which surfaced from Rewa, shows an accused person confidently filming himself while handcuffed inside a police vehicle — sparking a wave of outrage and prompting a departmental inquiry.
The viral video from Rewa shows the accused sitting in a police van, smiling and gesturing casually to the camera, even as he remains in handcuffs. The reel, complete with music and bold captions, appears to have been edited and posted on social media platforms shortly after the recording - raising questions about how the accused accessed a mobile phone while in police custody and how officers on duty allowed such a breach of conduct.
As the video gained traction, pressure mounted on law enforcement agencies. Senior police officials have confirmed that an inquiry has been ordered and strict action will be taken against those found responsible for the glaring lapse in protocol.
The incident has also ignited a political firestorm, with the opposition Congress holding the ruling BJP Government responsible for the deteriorating state of law and order. Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesperson Anand Jat issued a sharp statement criticising the Government:
“This is not a one-off case of negligence — it is a shocking reflection of how broken the policing system has become under the BJP rule. When accused persons can shoot and post videos from inside police custody, it exposes the rot in the system. The police appear to have become mere spectators while criminals mock justice on camera,” Jat said.
He further added, “Such incidents highlight the emboldenment of criminal elements and the absence of fear of law. If the government can’t maintain control over its own security apparatus, how can it protect the citizens? Accountability must be ensured, and responsible officers must be suspended.”
Police sources say that a review of standard operating procedures for prisoner escort and custody may be undertaken to prevent such incidents in the future.
This is not the first time such a violation has occurred. On May 22, a similar incident was reported from Itarsi in Narmadapuram district, where another accused, while being taken for a medical check-up, recorded a video reel and later uploaded it online. The Itarsi video too had attracted criticism, but the recurrence of such behavior in Rewa has deepened concerns over the effectiveness of internal policing standards and the seriousness with which such breaches are addressed.