A judicial inquiry panel constituted under Section 176(1-A) CrPC has summoned senior Gujarat Police officials, including the IGP Junagadh Range, after a man died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody. The notice issued by the Inquiry Officer for &ldquo;custodial death/hanging in police custody&rdquo;, directs the IGP to &ldquo;produce SRP PSI Shri Hiteshbhai Bharatsingh Vaghela and SRP Shri Jayendrasinh Narendrasinh,&rdquo; the two officers linked to the incident. The panel emphasised strict protocol adherence, stating that officers must appear&nbsp;&ldquo;along with all relevant documents, registers and records required for the inquiry.&rdquo;
The case pertains to the custodial death of Shubhambhai Vinodbhai of Bhavnagar district. While the police claimed the victim died by self-hanging, the judicial committee noted inconsistencies in the primary records and mandated a comprehensive examination of the detention timeline, medical checks, surveillance footage and statements of all personnel on duty. The notice makes it clear that the inquiry will independently assess whether proper procedures were followed, adding that &ldquo;any non-cooperation will be viewed seriously.&rdquo;
Family members of the deceased have alleged custodial torture and deliberate negligence, accusing the police of withholding information and delaying communication. They claim Shubhambhai was &ldquo;hale and healthy&rdquo; when detained and demanded accountability for what they describe as a &ldquo;deliberate attempt to cover up custodial violence.&rdquo; Rights groups have also called for transparency and urged the government to ensure that the investigation is &ldquo;free from institutional bias,&rdquo; citing a worrying rise in custodial deaths reported by the NCRB.
The panel has scheduled the next sitting at the District Panchayat Circuit House, making it mandatory for all concerned officers to attend. The directive underlines the seriousness of the inquiry, reiterating that &ldquo;the presence of the officers is essential for the fair adjudication of facts.&rdquo; As the investigation progresses, the case has sparked fresh debate over police accountability and the urgent need for structural reforms to curb custodial violence in the state.

Custodial Death Inquiry Summons Gujarat Police

High Court-led panel summons IGP, police officers in suspected death case

Custodial Death Inquiry Summons Gujarat Police

High Court-led panel summons IGP, police officers in suspected death case

November 25, 2025 | 14:21 IST