HRF demands for Judicial enquiry in the custodial death at Rajendra Nagar Police Station.

Rajendra Nagar Custodial Death – Fact finding report

On 13th May 2025 , on the steps of Rajendra Nagar police station a man named Mohammad Irfan collapsed and died in the late evening. Human Rights Forum – Hyderabad President Suresh and General Secretary Sanjeev conducted fact finding the said matter on 18th May 2025.

Incident Summary:

• On the evening of 13th May 2025, Mohammad Irfan, a resident of the Dargah Khalij Khan area in Rajendranagar and a native of Mysore who had migrated to Hyderabad in search of livelihood, collapsed and died on the steps of Rajendranagar Police Station. He was later declared dead at Osmania Hospital.

• Irfan, an auto-rickshaw driver and father of three includes 6 months old baby, was reportedly involved in an extra-marital affair which led to familial tensions. A joint meeting between his family and the woman’s family was held earlier that day to resolve the issue. When the matter remained unresolved, (he was summoned by the police thru his relatives)both families approached Rajendranagar Police Station around 7:30 p.m. seeking assistance.

Allegations by the Family:

According to Irfan’s relatives:

• Upon arrival at the police station, Sub-Inspector (unidentified) and Constable Sajid Khan allegedly took Irfan into a room to the right of the reception and subjected him to severe physical assault for over an hour. His screams were audible to those outside.

• When Irfan was sent out of the room, he was visibly unable to walk, collapsed on the police station door steps, and was declared brought dead at the Osmania hospital.

• When relatives began recording videos and taking photos, a superior officer in civil dress, identified as Circle Inspector Kastro, allegedly forced them to delete the content.

• Irfan’s wife, Mrs. Nishad Begum, was reportedly made to sign a document in Telugu, which the family could not understand. When questioned, police claimed it was a mere formality required to release the body for transport to Mysore.

• The family was not provided with an FIR copy or the postmortem report.

• Photographic evidence shows visible signs of assault, including torn clothes and injuries near the eye.

• The family suspects the police might have accepted a bribe from the relatives of Mrs. Nishad Begum to act violently against Irfan.

• A photograph shown by relatives identifies Constable Sajid Khan as one of the assailants. The identity of the Sub-Inspector remains unknown.

Interaction with Police:

• The fact-finding team visited Rajendra Nagar Police Station and spoke with Circle Inspector Kastro, who denied any assault, stating that Irfan was only “counseled at the reception”. Admitted that the event was not recorded in the General Diary as no formal complaint was filed.

• Claimed that CCTV cameras were working and that the ACP ruled out police brutality based on the footage. Mentioned that an FIR has been filed and that a Sub-Inspector is investigating the case, denying the need for an ACP-level probe.

Key Observations:

1. Police interference in civil matters like family disputes continues unchecked, contrary to protocol.
2. FIR and postmortem reports were not provided to the deceased’s kin.
3. If family allegations are true, the police acted as enforcers rather than law keepers, behaving akin to rowdy sheeters.
4. There is a clear indication of misuse of authority, suppression of evidence, and a lack of transparency, non-compliance of routine mandatory procedure.

Human Rights Forum Demands:

1. Immediate provision of the FIR copy and postmortem report to the family. Judicial Enquiry must be conducted on this regard
2. Suspension of all police personnel involved in the incident pending a full investigation by an officer not below DCP rank. If found guilty, criminal proceedings must be initiated.
3. The Telangana State Police must issue a circular instructing all police stations to stay away from civil/family disputes.
4. Clear directives must be given to refer domestic/family issues to Sakhi Centres, which are the designated agencies for such matters.
5. The Telangana Police must restore public confidence by affirming that police personnel do not use force in exchange for bribes and are not immune from legal consequences.
6. This incident should be treated as a case of custodial death and accordingly legal proceedings need to be initiated.

M. Suresh Babu
President,
Human Rights Forum – Hyderabad Unit

Sanjeev
General Secretary,
Human Rights Forum – Hyderabad Unit

18.05.2025,
Hyderabad.