[Kasganj Custodial Death Case] Allahabad HC seeks status report of the magisterial inquiry by February 8

Read Time: 05 minutes

The Allahabad High Court today directed the State Government of Uttar Pradesh to file the status report of the magisterial inquiry that had been ordered in the Kasganj Custodial Death Case.

The bench comprising Justice Anjani Kumar Mishra and Justice Deepak Verma, directed the Additional Government Advocate to file the same before the next date of hearing, i.e., February 8.

Yesterday, the court had come down heavily upon the Superintendent of Police, Kasganj against his failure in filing the long-due response. Court had said that if he had failed, a very heavy cost would have been imposed.

However, today, the AGA apprised the court that the officer had filed the counter affidavit to the deceased Altaf's father's plea seeking CBI inquiry into the case on Saturday, however, the same had not come on record. The petitioner’s counsel also submitted that rejoinder to the same has been filed which is also yet to come on record.

Accordingly, directing the registry to place the same on record, court adjourned the case till the next date with the abovesaid directions.

That observation had taken place, on the plea moved by Chand Miyan (Altaf's father) that essentially seeks investigation of the case by the agency. Miyan has alleged that as the crime involves the police itself, he and his family face grave danger from local police authorities, and have no faith in the State Police and their shady investigation.

During the hearing today, Advocate Mohd. Kumail Haider, appearing for Miyan urged before the for direction for a second post mortem of Altaf's body. Haidar stressed that a second post mortem needs to be done and the body is already buried underground for two months now.

Altaf, a 21-year-old laborer died in police custody on November 9, 2021, at Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh a day after he was brought in for questioning following a complaint against him for kidnapping a minor girl. The police earlier claimed that he had committed suicide by tying himself to a 2 to 3 feet high pipe. However, after much hue and cry, an FIR got lodged on November 13 at Kasganj Police Station under Section 302 against unidentified police officers.

Case Title: Chand Miyan v. State of UP and 5 Others