The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has taken suo motu cognizance of a reported custodial death in Deoghar district, Jharkhand, on May 21, 2025. The deceased, taken into custody for questioning related to a cybercrime, allegedly died due to physical torture. The NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) of Jharkhand, requesting a detailed report within six weeks, including inquest, post-mortem, cause of death, and magisterial inquiry reports. The NHRC also seeks an explanation for the district police's failure to report the custodial death within 24 hours, as required by established guidelines. The Commission views the incident as a potential violation of human rights.
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission: A national human rights organization in India, also referred to as NHRC.
NHRC: Abbreviation for the National Human Rights Commission.
India: The country where the National Human Rights Commission is located.
Deoghar district: A district in Jharkhand, India, where the alleged custodial death occurred.
Jharkhand: A state in India where the alleged custodial death occurred.
Chief Secretary: A government official in Jharkhand to whom notices were issued.
DGP: Abbreviation for Director General of Police, a high-ranking police official in Jharkhand to whom notices were issued.
State Chief Secretary: A government official in Jharkhand to whom explanation was sought regarding the lapse.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - the source of the posted information.
Palajori police station: The police station where the deceased was allegedly taken for interrogation.
21st May, 2025: The reported date of the man's death in police custody.
Deoghar Sadar Hospital: The hospital where the victim was taken and declared dead.
22nd May, 2025: The date the media report was carried.
NSK Release ID: 2132022: A release identifier, potentially for internal tracking of the news release.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the
reported death of a man in police custody in Deoghar
district, Jharkhand
Issues notices to the Chief Secretary and the DGP,
Jharkhand, calling for a detailed report in the matter
within six weeks
The report is expected to include inquest and post-
mortem reports, along with the cause of death, as
well as the magisterial enquiry report
The Commission also seeks an explanation from the
State Chief Secretary and DGP over the lapse of the
district police not sending intimation about this death
in custody within 24 hours as per its guidelines
Posted On: 28 MAY 2025 3:53PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report
that a man died in police custody in Deoghar district, Jharkhand on 21st May, 2025. Reportedly, he was taken
from his residence to the Palajori police station for interrogation in connection with a cyber-crime. The
victim’s family members have reportedly alleged that he was physically tortured in police custody, resulting
in his death.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of
the human rights of the victim. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General
of Police, Jharkhand, calling for a detailed report in the matter within six weeks. It is expected to include the
inquest and post-mortem reports, along with the cause of death, as well as the magisterial enquiry report.
The Commission has also taken a serious view of the district police not sending any intimation about this
custodial death, required to be sent within 24 hours of the occurrence of the incident as per its guidelines to all
the State and Union Territory administrations. Therefore, it has also sought an explanation for this lapse from
the Chief Secretary and DGP, Jharkhand.
According to the media report carried on 22nd May, 2025, the victim’s health deteriorated during
interrogation by police. He was taken to the Deoghar Sadar Hospital, where the attending doctor declared himdead.
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NSK
(Release ID: 2132022)