High Court Orders Probe into Custodial Torture Allegations Against KPHB Police
After his release, the petitioner went for treatment at Gandhi Hospital and produced the X-rays and scans, before the court.
Hyderabad:The Telangana High Court has ordered a detailed inquiry into allegations of third-degree custodial torture, illegal detention and an attempt to falsely implicate a physiotherapist in the case of a minor girl going missing that was registered at the Kukatpally Housing Board (KPHB) police station.
Justice T. Madhavi Devi was hearing a petition filed by the 40-year-old occupational therapist, who sought a criminal case against the station house officer and other staff of the KPHB police, and Rs 15 lakh compensation from them for subjecting him custodial torture and applying the an ointment used for headaches on his private parts throughout the intervening night of August 3 and 4.
Considering the petitioner`s statements and bonafides, the court directed the Cyberabad police commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the allegations. The court also ordered preservation of CCTV footage of the KPHB police station covering the intervening night of August 3 and 4 and directed that the footage be produced before it. The court directed the police not to take any action against the petitioner without following due process of law.
However, petitioner`s counsel requested a magisterial inquiry into the incident and transfer of the investigation in the criminal case which was registered against the petitioner on the grounds of minor girl abduction, to an officer of the rank of superintendent of police or deputy commissioner of police from another commissionerate.
The dispute escalated after a 17-year-old domestic help associated with a physiotherapy clinic, went missing. A case was registered at KPHB police station on July 13 against a third person allegedly suspected of accompanying the girl. The petitioner alleged that he was subsequently targeted because the girl had made a brief phone call to him seeking money, before she left.
The petitioner complained that at 7 pm on August 3, the KPHB police detained him without informing him of the grounds. He alleged that police personnel abused and assaulted him and subjected him to severe physical torture in an unmonitored room, allegedly to force him to confess to abducting the girl. He alleged that police personnel threatened him with implication in Pocso and NDPS Act cases if he complained about the alleged torture. After involvement of his advocate, the police made him the first accused in the FIR, with a backdate, the petitioner complained.
After his release, the petitioner went for treatment at Gandhi Hospital and produced the X-rays and scans, before the court.