A case of alleged custodial death has emerged from the Jahangirpuri area, where a 36-year-old man, Mohammad Anees, died under suspicious circumstances after reportedly being detained by police. His family has accused the police of illegal custody and physical assault.
According to his mother, Sitara, Anees had gone to the mandi with a friend, carrying ₹2 lakh, when he was stopped by police personnel and taken in for questioning. She alleged that he was accused of theft and robbery, despite denying any involvement. The friend who accompanied Anees was allegedly beaten and later informed the family about Anees’s detention.
“My son had gone to the mandi with his friend, carrying ₹2 lakh, when he was stopped and taken to the police station. The police accused him of theft and robbery, but he kept saying he had done nothing wrong, Sitara said when speaking to FOEJ Media.
“The boy who was with him was badly beaten. He came to me in the morning and told me, ‘Aunty, your son is at the police station; please get him released'” she added.
Sitara further claimed that when she reached the police station, officials denied that Anees was in their custody. She said the family went from one police station to another but was repeatedly told that he was not there. Hours later, they received a phone call asking them to come and identify a body.
“When I went to the police station, they told me he was not there. We went to a different station, but no one gave us any information. Later, I got a call asking me to come and identify my son. At first, the body they showed was not him, but then they showed me a photograph—it was Anees. When I reached the hospital’s postmortem department, my son was lying there.” Sitara told FoEJ Media.
The family alleges that Anees’s body bore visible signs of injury, including swelling on his hands, neck, and face, raising serious concerns about custodial violence.
His father, Anwar, who claims to have seen CCTV footage from the police station, said the visuals raise troubling questions about what happened inside.
“In the video around 9 am, he is seen walking into the police station. After some time, he is seen being brought out with support on the shoulder, almost as if he were lifeless,” Anwar told FoEJ Media.
“When I saw his body, my world turned upside down. If my son had committed any crime, it would be understandable, but this happened to an innocent boy,” he added.
Police Version of Events
According to the police, the medical report reveals that the reason behind the death was dehydration. The DCP Yadav said that Anees was picked up on April 19 during routine patrolling after his suspicious behavior. He was taken to Jahangipuri police station around 3:30 am, where he was continuously drinking water, later developing breathlessness issues. Upon seeing her deteriorated medical condition, Anees was rushed to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial (BJRM) Hospital, where he was declared dead.
“While at the police station, the man complained of uneasiness and was provided drinking water. Subsequently, his condition deteriorated and he developed breathlessness. Upon his request, he was immediately shifted to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial (BJRM) Hospital for medical assistance, where he died during treatment,” Yadav said.
“It has also been learned that the deceased was in a weakened condition, suffering from illness, and had a history of substance abuse. According to his family members, he had been consuming alcohol continuously for the past few days. The exact cause of death will be ascertained after a post-mortem examination. Inquest proceedings are being conducted as per law,” said deputy commissioner of police (north-west) Akanksha Yadav.
The DCP further said that, according to initial observations and the medico-legal certificate (MLC), no external injuries or assault marks were seen on the body. “This has also been corroborated by personnel present at the police station, including the sentry on duty,” Yadav said.
