Man moves court alleging custodial torture

Ahmedabad: A man has approached the metropolitan court accusing Vatva police of engaging in custodial torture in a bid to extort money from him in connection with a betting case.

A resident of Ghodasar, Pramod Shinde, filed a complaint against a police sub-inspector and three constables of Vatva police station and demanded action against them under Sections 161, 166, 323 and 324 of IPC. He sought punishment for public servants for disobeying directions of the law with intent to cause injury and brutally beating him in custody.

In his complaint, Shinde has alleged that he was summoned to Vatva police chowky on July 2 in connection to a case of betting, as co-accused in the case had named him too. He went to the police chowky with a lawyer named Bhaskar Naik and a guarantor Dilip Patel thinking that he would get bail.

He further alleged that the PSI demanded Rs 5 lakh from him for removal of his name from the case. His advocate argued with cops and there were counter arguments between the cops and the lawyer, who left the premises telling the cops that he would ensure that Shinde gets bail the next day. The guarantor too left with him.

However, the policemen took Shinde inside and thrashed him. He was asked to fetch Rs 5 lakh, but he kept on saying that he could not arrange for such a huge amount. Finally, he was made to call Dilip Patel to bring Rs 20,000. The latter advised him that he should go and tell the magistrate the next day about the custodial torture. At hearing this, the cops immediately released him. He went to the LG Hospital, obtained medical treatment, got a certificate and then filed the complaint in the court through advocate S M Vora.

The court is likely to take up his complaint for hearing later this week.