Mumbai custodial death: Family members of 26-year-old meet CM; demand FIR against cops, arrest of couple

Hriday Singh, the father of the deceased, expressed concern that an FIR was yet to be lodged against the policemen and that the couple who assaulted Vijay at a petrol pump was yet to be arrested.

Family members of 26-year-old Vijay Singh, who died allegedly in the custody of Wadala Truck Terminal police station in Mumbai, on Thursday met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded justice.

Hriday Singh, the father of the deceased, expressed concern that an FIR was yet to be lodged against the policemen and that the couple who assaulted Vijay at a petrol pump was yet to be arrested. “…basic necessity like water and a car to take him to hospital after Vijay started losing consciousness should have been provided. He wasn’t a hardcore criminal and police shouldn’t have treated him the way they did,” he said.

Terming the incident “very serious”, Fadnavis said a thorough probe has been ordered. “Five police personnel have been suspended. After the probe stern action will be taken against all those responsible,” Fadnavis said.

Former Congress leader Kripa Shankar Singh accompanied the family during the meeting with the CM. The state government has given Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family.

Vijay, a BCom graduate, worked for a pharmaceutical company. He was to get engaged on November 19 and the marriage was scheduled in May next year. “He was so excited for his engagement that he had gone shopping a month before it. He bought a pair of clothes, watches for himself and his wife-to-be. He had even made a tattoo of her name on his biceps,” his father said.

His father, who works as a taxi driver, said he had even bought a new car for him. “I don’t want money from the government, I want justice,” Hriday said.

Following the death, Mumbai Police suspended assistant inspector Salim Khan, sub-inspector Sandeep Kadam and constables Bhabal, Chaure and Chole. The Crime Branch is probing the matter. The incident is being treated as a case of custodial death, said a police spokesperson.

The Crime Branch, meanwhile, has started recording the statements of family members and the policemen. “There wasn’t any CCTV camera near the spot, which is hampering investigations,” an officer said.

Later on Thursday, Mumbai NCP chief Nawab Malik led a delegation to the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) to demand a thorough probe and action against the police personnel. The delegation met MSHRC acting chairperson M A Sayeed. Malik said, “We urged the state human rights commission to conduct a probe. Preliminary information indicates Singh died because of police brutally at the police station.”

In a separate development, a lawyer approached the Bombay High Court on Thursday urging it to take cognisance of the death of the 26-year-old in police custody. Advocate Arvind Tiwari submitted his application to the vacation bench of Justice K K Tated. Justice Tated directed the HC registry to place the application before Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog for necessary directions.

Vijay died after he was detained at the police station for questioning on Sunday. Around 10.30 pm on Sunday, Vijay, along with his friend Ankit Mishra, were filling petrol at a pump in Wadala East when the couple – Dashrat Devendra and Afreen – allegedly came charging at them, as they believed the duo had purposely flashed their headlight at them, the police said. As the confrontation turned violent and physical, a patrolling van reached the pump and took Vijay and Mishra to the police station. “The police officers started beating Vijay at the spot. They later took us inside a room at the police station and started assaulting us again. Vijay complained of chest pain and even asked them for water, but the policemen refused. Around 2 am, when he fell unconscious, he was rushed to Sion hospital where he was declared dead,” Mishra has claimed.

(With PTI inputs)

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