Dalit man dies in police custody: Allahabad High Court seeks response from Yogi government, demands 25 lakh compensation
Nawabganj Police Station death case: Petitioners seek ₹25 lakh compensation for the family and a High Court-monitored investigation
Published on: Sep 19, 2025, 10:28 am
Prayagraj: Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a probe into the death of a Dalit man in police custody at Nawabganj police station in Prayagraj, the Allahabad High Court has directed the state government to file its reply (counter affidavit) within two weeks.
The petitioners also sought compensation of ₹2.5 million for the deceased’s family members. The family alleges that the man died due to custodial torture within the police station premises, while the police claim he died of a heart attack.
Hearing a PIL filed by Advocates Forum and two others, a division bench of Justice Siddhartha and Justice Santosh Rai in its order on Wednesday directed listing of the PIL for further hearing before the appropriate court on October 10.
According to the petitioner’s lawyer, Charlie Prakash, on May 27th, police picked up Hira Lal, a laborer, from his home in connection with an unnamed theft case. It is alleged that no family member was allowed to meet Hira Lal, and later the police informed Hira Lal that he had died. Family members were told to go to the morgue at Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital.
The PIL alleged that Hira Lal’s body was not handed over to the family members and the police cremated him at Daraganj Ghat in Prayagraj.
“This is a case of brutal custodial death and murder by the police in the police station premises in violation of Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty),” argued Charlie Prakash, counsel for the petitioner.
He demanded the formation of a high-level independent and impartial committee headed by a retired High Court judge to investigate the case of illegal detention, custodial torture and custodial death of Hira Lal, a resident of Narrepar village, Budauna under Nawabganj police station.
The PIL also said, “The investigation should be conducted under the supervision of the High Court to submit its report within a stipulated time.”
