36 verified cases involving Custodial / human rights, newest first.
Two Uttar Pradesh police officers were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the custodial death of a man that occurred 20 years prior. The case was resolved after two decades.
A custodial death case in Madhya Pradesh where a judicial enquiry report named the Jail Superintendent, subordinate jail staff, and empanelled doctors as responsible. An FIR was registered based on the enquiry findings.
The Supreme Court acquitted a man who had spent 22 years in jail due to wrongful conviction. The case exemplifies a failure in the judicial system where technical grounds were used to refuse hearing, prolonging an innocent person's incarceration.
A suspect was arrested in connection with an extensive inter-state child trafficking enterprise in which 52 minors, including a 2-year-old, were rescued. The accused has been in custody since January 18, 2026, and the Jharkhand High Court rejected his bail appeal.
A 38-year-old labourer died in custody at Hagaribommanahalli police station in Vijayanagara, Karnataka. Two police personnel, including a head constable, were arrested in connection with the alleged custodial death.
A man died in January 2024 following police custody. An FIR was registered on July 30, 2026 to probe the death. The Supreme Court criticised the Chhattisgarh Director General of Police, describing the handling as 'totally incompetent' and warning of potential contempt proceedings.
A public interest litigation seeks directions to ban the use of metallic pellets fired from pump action rifles or projectile action guns by law enforcement agencies for dispersing civilian assemblies. The petition was filed following injuries sustained by a Delhi protest victim during the Sansad Chalo protest.
An inmate named Sabari Varman died inside Nagercoil Sub Jail in Tamil Nadu. Eight prison inmates were arrested in connection with his death following investigation of warders and other inquiries. Family members alleged torture, though a police official denied the allegations and stated evidence showed the deceased was in good health when he left the police station.
Kamji Gond died allegedly as a result of custodial assault by police officers in Ballia district, Varanasi. A murder FIR was registered against two police constables, a village head, and three others. The case is under inquiry and the accused police officers have been suspended.
A PIL was filed in Jharkhand High Court challenging an NHRC circular that withdrew its earlier directive mandating judicial inquiries in all custodial death, disappearance, and rape cases. The petition references the case Mohammad Mumtaz Ansari vs State of Jharkhand.
A 19-year-old died in police custody in Delhi, allegedly by suicide. The father sued for compensation. The Delhi High Court awarded ₹18.44 lakh in compensation, holding that an unnatural death in custody, even if by suicide, constitutes State responsibility and attracts liability regardless of direct culpability.
Haryana fixed compensation of ₹7.5 lakh for unnatural deaths in police custody. One complaint alleged that a person granted regular bail was illegally detained on July 15, 2025, and subjected to physical assault and third-degree torture at the police station.
A 26-year-old man, Sai Krishna, allegedly died in police custody at Krishna Lanka Police Station in Vijayawada, NTR district, between May 9 and early hours of the next day. The NHRC sought reports from the Andhra Pradesh DGP and Chief Secretary regarding illegal detention, torture, alleged death, and body disposal. An FIR was registered against former CI Nagaraju.
A custodial death or violence case involving police personnel in Madhya Pradesh where the accused police officers claimed protection under Section 197 CrPC. The Madhya Pradesh High Court rejected the claim, holding that custodial violence does not fall within the scope of official duty and does not require sanction for prosecution.
A 32-year-old man allegedly died in custody at Kabisurya Nagar police station in Ganjam district, Odisha. The National Human Rights Commission has sought an action taken report from the district administration regarding the circumstances of the death and police conduct.
A 70-year-old man alleged died in custody at Vejalpur Police Station, Ahmedabad, in May 2026. The Supreme Court of India directed the Gujarat government to register an FIR and ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged custodial death.
The Jharkhand High Court ordered an inquiry into the state's failure to conduct mandatory judicial inquiries in custodial death cases, terming the reliance on executive inquiries as administrative lawlessness.
A Madurai court sentenced nine police officers to death for the 2020 Sathankulam custodial murders, drawing significant attention to India's custodial torture crisis and the ongoing debate over anti-torture legislation.
A 26-year-old Dalit man died while undergoing treatment after being taken into custody by police in Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu. The state government has transferred the investigation to the CB-CID following allegations of custodial torture by the family.
A landmark judgment recognizing the right to self-identification for transgender persons and establishing their legal protections. A subsequent 2025 bench decision reaffirmed these principles by directing compensation for a transgender woman denied employment.