Custodial death case: Pre-arrest bail denied to 3 Sangli cops

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has rejected a plea for pre-arrest bail by three Sangli police officers who were booked for the custodial death of an accused. Rejecting the trio’s plea, saying at the most it was a case of causing hurt to extract a confession, Justice Anand Badar said prima facie a case of abetment to suicide could not be ruled out.
Rajshekhar Nandgond, who was detained as a suspect in a rape and murder case, was found hanging in the public latrine attached to Umadi police station on June 6.The HC rejected the anticipatory bail applications filed by the police officers Rajaram Chincholikar, Pramod Rode and Ganesh Waghmode. Additional public prosecutor Swapnil Pednekar said the custodial interrogation of the three personnel was necessary.
“Perusal of papers of investigation goes to show that though not arrested, deceased Rajeshekar was virtually in the custody of the accused persons,” said Justice Badar. The court referred to statements by a lady police officer who had seen Rajshekhar and another lady being assaulted. “Prima facie... it appears that because of constant torture by applicants for a period of three days, Rajshekar had (ended his life),” the judge said.