Judicial investigation holds police officers responsible for custody of Somnath Suryawanshi in Parbhani

Last year, a judicial investigation into the death of a guardian in Somnath Suryawanshi in Palbani region concluded that police were responsible | Image source: PTI

The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission said that in December 2024, a judicial investigation into the death of the guardian of Somnath Suryawanshi in Palbani region concluded, and the police were responsible.

MSHRC heard the complaint about the death of Suryawanshi and issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Ministry of the Interior, Deputy Director General CID (Crime) (CID) and Deputy Police Department (CID) Parbhani on March 20.

Suryavanshi, 35, died in judicial detention at a state-owned hospital in Palbani on December 15, and was arrested in the city for blasphemy for blasphemy of a glass-based replica. Police have said Suryavanshi died after she fell ill.

The committee said it had filed multiple complaints about the incident to “avoid orders clashing with each other.”

During the March 20 hearing, MSHRC said it received a box containing reports of a judicial investigation into the death of the ward of Suryawanshi’s guardian. The report has three volumes and is divided into 451 pages.

The committee noted: “A careful reading of the report of the Judicial Investigation shows that the magistrate of justice has concluded that Suryawanshi attacked Nava Mondha of the Parbhani police station.”

According to the magistrate, the Pabani police officer mentioned in his report was Suryawanshi’s custody death.

The committee then issued a notice to state and police officials and sought reports on the matter.

The reports said that the reports may also contain remedial steps taken in the matter and that compensation was quantified in this issue.

In addition, the MSHRC noted that the reports of other Director-General and the Chief of the Prabani Police Department (CID) must include progress in the investigation of the accidental death case and that the crime was registered in this matter.

The MSHRC also issued notices to all police officers designated in the report and gave them a chance to be tried.

This will be heard on June 23.