HC orders probe into custodial death

The bench also ordered a compensation of Rs 10,000 for wrongful8217; detention of Jitendra against whom police had launched chapter proceedings.

The court turned down the prayer of public prosecutor Rajiv Patil to grant time for filing an appeal in the Supreme Court against the order.

The petitioner alleged that her son was picked up by a constable from their Thane residence. When he did not turn up for some days she went to inquire at the police station but hiswhereabouts was not known to the cops.

On December 23 a constable came to the petitioner8217;s house to inform that her son had passed away at J J hospital in Mumbai. On the same day, Thane jail authorities also sent a telegram informing that Jitendra, who was in their custody, was no more.

Counsel for the petitioner, M R Behre, demanded compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh for the death of Jitendra. Vithal Gadge, sub-inspector of Nagpada police station, filed an affidavit contending that Jitendra was picked up on December 5 as he was moving around suspiciously.