Bengaluru: Four policemen attached to MK Doddi police station in Bengaluru South district have been suspended following the death of a theft suspect in custody. The action was taken after allegations of custodial negligence surfaced.
Officers suspended for dereliction of duty
The suspended officers have been identified as assistant sub-inspector Nagaraju and constables Lakshminarayana, Prathap and Somanath. Bengaluru Rural Superintendent of Police R Srinivas Gowda ordered their suspension citing dereliction of duty.
The incident is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after the deceased’s family alleged that he was a victim of custodial death.
Suspect arrested in temple theft case
The deceased, Ramesh from Dundanahalli in Mandya, had been arrested along with his son Manju (27) and another accused, Venkatesh (36) of Mysuru. Police claimed the trio was involved in the theft of valuables from a temple in Bommanayakanahalli, Channapatna.
They were taken into custody and kept at MK Doddi police station for three days before being scheduled for court production on August 20.
Death inside police station
According to the police version, Ramesh went to the washroom around 6.45 am on August 20 but failed to return. He was later found hanging from his dhoti. Officers rushed him to a hospital, where he was declared dead.
His death has raised serious questions regarding police handling of detainees and compliance with custodial safety protocols.
CID probe underway
Following the allegations, the CID has taken charge of the investigation. Officials said they will review CCTV footage, interrogation records and statements from fellow detainees to ascertain the sequence of events leading to Ramesh’s death.
The case has triggered debates on the need for stricter custodial safeguards, including continuous monitoring of suspects and adherence to human rights guidelines.