Teenage POCSO Accused Found Dead in Nagpur Police Custody, Suspensions Ordered
A 19-year-old youth accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and kidnapping charges allegedly died by suicide inside the lock-up of Jaripatka police station in Nagpur during the early hours of Thursday. The incident has triggered a major investigation and led to the immediate suspension of four police personnel for alleged negligence in duty.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Tragedy
The deceased, identified as Nagendra Bhatia (19), a BSc graduate from Uttar Pradesh, was the sole detainee in the lock-up when he reportedly took the extreme step. CCTV footage from the police station reportedly captured Nagendra using a bedsheet to hang himself between 4.45 am and 5 am on January 22. His body was discovered around 5.30 am when officers went to check on him.
Nagendra was originally rounded up in Prayagraj on January 18 and brought to Nagpur in connection with a case involving a 16-year-old girl from North Nagpur. According to police accounts, the survivor had befriended Nagendra—a bhajan and kirtan singer—through an acquaintance when she visited Uttar Pradesh for a religious event.
Details of the Alleged Crime and Investigation
Police stated that on January 10, Nagendra called the survivor to meet him near Ganesh Tekdi around noon, took her to a hotel where he allegedly raped her, and then dropped her off at her home. The next evening, following an argument with her mother over mobile phone usage, the survivor left her house in the early hours of January 12. When she informed Nagendra, he called her to Rewa and subsequently took her to Prayagraj, where she stayed at his residence from January 13 to 18.
The survivor's brother had lodged a complaint on January 11, alleging abduction. An FIR was registered at Jaripatka police station under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for kidnapping. Using phone location details that showed the survivor in Prayagraj, a police team was dispatched to bring her back.
After both Nagendra and the survivor were brought to Nagpur, she initially refused a medical examination on January 19 but consented the following day. The examination confirmed rape, leading to Nagendra's immediate arrest under the POCSO Act. The Nagpur sessions court remanded him in two-day police custody.
Probe Reveals Critical Security Lapses
Following the registration of an accidental death case, the crime branch initiated an investigation, with the State CID set to formally take over. The preliminary probe uncovered serious lapses: the sentry guards were absent from their positions, and the night duty officer failed to conduct mandatory checks.
In response, four personnel—sub-inspector Nitin Atram (night officer), head constable Abhay Khadse, and constables Pramod Dudhkaware and Rahul Chavan (guard duty)—have been suspended for dereliction of duty.
Forensic and Administrative Actions
Experts from the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory visited the police station to collect exhibits and evidence. CID officials seized CCTV footage, while DCP Sandeep Pakhale and ACP Satyavan Bandiwar conducted the initial probe into the circumstances.
CP Ravinder Singal and joint CP Navinchandra Reddy rushed to the police station upon learning of the incident. Singal briefed the director general of police (DGP) and the state government about the matter.
The inquest panchnama was videographed in the presence of an executive magistrate. The post-mortem, which will also be videographed, is scheduled at GMCH on Friday. Police authorities stated that the video CD of the post-mortem, along with the full report, was sent to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Delhi for review.
Family Allegations and Demands for Justice
The incident sparked tension at the police station when Nagendra's family arrived. His father, Ramji, was inconsolable, alleging murder rather than suicide. "How can someone commit suicide in police custody? He must have been killed," he said. Family members demanded justice and the presence of the minor survivor at the police station.
Ramji claimed the survivor's family had sought Rs 5 lakh to settle the matter and accused police of delaying notification and access to the body. Officers initially restricted media interaction but later relented.
Judicial Scrutiny and Past Incident
The sessions court has demanded a detailed report on the case, including the circumstances of Nagendra's suicide and relevant CCTV footage, to identify any procedural or supervisory failures.
This is not the first incident of concern at Jaripatka police station. In 2023, a lock-up guard, Sachin Bodele, accidentally fired inside the police station, creating a flutter and raising questions about safety protocols.
