A 29-year-old remand prisoner died at a government hospital on Wednesday, hours after being shifted from prison for treatment, triggering allegations of custodial assault from his family.
Prison authorities cite health complications
The deceased, identified as Punithan, was a resident of Tambaram. According to officials, he was arrested by Sankar Nagar police on February 13 based on a non-bailable warrant issued in connection with a 2020 robbery case. After failing to appear before the court, he was lodged at Puzhal Central Prison (Central Prison II).
Prison authorities stated that Punithan had been suffering from alcohol-related health issues and was under treatment at the prison hospital. As his condition worsened, he was referred to Stanley Government Hospital for advanced care.
Despite medical efforts, he reportedly did not respond to treatment and was declared dead.
Family alleges custodial assault
However, Punithan’s relatives have alleged foul play, claiming he had a pre-existing hernia condition and that visible injury marks were found on his body. They further accused police personnel of using force during his arrest and of previously foisting cases against him.
A senior officer from the Tamil Nadu Police in Tambaram denied the allegations, stating that the arrest was executed strictly in accordance with the court-issued warrant and established procedures.
Authorities have said that further investigation is under way to ascertain the exact cause of death. Post-mortem findings are expected to provide clarity amid the conflicting claims.
The incident has once again raised concerns about custodial safety and transparency in handling remand prisoners.