Custodial death: Remand of accused cops extended for 3 more days

The arrested cops being taken to Shimla court (Photo: SNS)


The local court on Monday extended the police remand of the eight cops arrested for alleged custodial death of one of the accused in Gudia gangrape and murder case.

The CBI counsel Anshul Bansal had sought for further custody of the cops on the grounds that the agency requires more time to gather evidence in custodial death of Suraj, a Nepalese, who was allegedly killed inside Kotkhai Police Station on the intervening night of 18-19 July.

The CBI had asked for seven days police remand, however, court only granted three days custody.

The CBI brought the arrested Himachal Police officials including Inspector General of Police Zahoor Zaidi to Shimla in the afternoon on Monday and produced them before designated court.

The CBI had arrested seven other cops, which included: Deputy Superintendent of Police (Theog) Manoj Joshi, the then Station House Officer (Kotkhai) Rajender Singh, Assistant Sub Inspector, Deep Chand Sharma, Head Constables Surat Singh, Mohan Lal and Rafiq Ali and constable Ranjit Singh on 29 August, and were sent on Police remand till 4 September.

The police officials were being questioned by CBI at its headquarters in New Delhi.

The arrests were made on the basis of statement of Constable posted at Kotkhai police station when Suraj, as per the claims of HP Police officials was allegedly killed by co-accused Rajender Singh in police custody.

His statement led to seizure of mobile phones of the members of SIT and later, the hard disk of Zaidi’s computer.

The CBI had also summoned five other cops who were part of SIT for questioning to Delhi including Additional Superintendent of Police, Bhajan Negi, DSP Traffic Rattan Singh Negi. The then Superintendent of Police, Shimla D W Negi was also called for questioning.