Magisterial probe holds cops responsible for custodial death of Parbhani protester

Mumbai: Nearly three months after Somnath Suryawanshi died in judicial custody, a magisterial inquiry has concluded that the police were responsible for his death, according to a report submitted to the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC).

The death of Suryawanshi snowballed into a major political issue, with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, visiting his family in Parbhani, even as the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi-INDIA opposition bloc targeted the Devendra Fadnavis-led MahaYuti-NDA dispensation.

A law student, Suryawanshi (35), who hailed from the Wadar community, died at a state-run hospital in Parbhani on December 15, 2024, while in judicial custody, days after he was arrested in connection with violence in Parbhani following the desecration of a replica of the Constitution of India, which was placed in a glass box alongside the statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

After receiving the report, the MSHRC, which is hearing complaints concerning Suryawanshi’s death, issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Additional Director General of Police (CID), and the Deputy Superintendent of Police (CID), Parbhani, seeking their reports in the matter.

Earlier, the post-mortem recorded the cause of his death as “shock following multiple injuries.”

“Perusal of the report of the magisterial inquiry shows that the judicial magistrate has concluded that Suryawanshi was assaulted at Nava Mondha Police Station in Parbhani,” the Commission noted.

According to the magistrate, Parbhani police officials named in his report are responsible for the custodial death of Suryawanshi, it said.

The MSHRC has also issued notices to all the police officials named in the report, granting them an opportunity to be heard.

The matter will next be heard on June 23.

Reacting to the development, the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi slammed the government.

“Even though Somnath Suryawanshi died due to police beatings, attempts are being made to suppress this case… We will ensure that the family gets justice,” said Siddharth Mokle, Chief Spokesperson and State Vice President of VBA.

Senior NCP (SP) leader and former State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh demanded action against the police personnel of the Nava Mondha Police Station. “Strictest action should be taken against the culprits in this case. The time to come will not forgive the rulers who support the guilty police officers,” he said.