Gujarat High Court looks into Bopal custodial death probe

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday took stock of the probe carried out by the special investigation team (SIT) headed by deputy superintendent of Ahmedabad rural police KT Kamaria in the infamous custodial death of a 35-year-old man in the old Bopal police station. The single judge bench of Justice Sonia Gokani had summoned Kamaria after the brother of the victim moved court alleging "shoddy probe" in the matter.

The court directly questioned the investigation officer regarding the incident and the probe carried out so far. Kamaria informed the court that under the oral instructions of the superintendent of police, the victim was held by the local crime branch (LCB) in a Rs 2.5 crore gold theft case and brought to Bopal. He clarified that the victim—Surubha Jhala—was kept as a suspect and not arrested.

The LCB interrogated him and then special operations group (SOG) took over the probe of the gold theft. The police officer stated that three SOG personnel tortured the victim in the midnight and when his condition deteriorated, he was taken to the primary health centre, where he was declared brought dead. Kamaria added that since three SOG personnel were allegedly involved in torturing the victim, all of them have been arrested.

Meanwhile, after directly questioning Kamaria, the court also took all investigation papers on record to study the same and the report of the superintendent of police on the issue which had been submitted to various authorities was also taken on record. The next hearing of the matter is scheduled on Thursday.

THE COUNSEL

Counsel for the petitioner Hriday Buch told DNA that the petitioner wants those responsible for the custodial death to be prosecuted, and the probe be handed over to CID to ensure fairness and transparency.