A judicial probe is underway into the death of a 20-year-old Dalit man named Akash who died at the Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) on the night of Wednesday, September 28, eight days after he was taken into custody by Chennai’s Otteri police. He was picked up by the police on September 21 for allegedly damaging the window of a car at Ayanavaram Railway Quarters, and was let off from the station the same day. However, after he later fell unconscious, he was admitted to the hospital, where he died on Wednesday.
According to police sources, the deceased Akash, who is a resident of Ayanavaram in Chennai, has been classified as a ‘C’ category history-sheeter with around ten cases pending against him. The charges against him include rioting, extortion, assault and robbery. Rowdies are classified into A+, A, B and C categories based on the nature of crimes they’ve allegedly committed.
A relative of Akash told TNM that the youth was taken to Otteri police station at around 6.30 pm on September 21 and was let off after a few hours. “We don’t know what happened, but he was admitted to the hospital by one of his friends in an unconscious state. At the time of his admission, he was able to move his limbs but after that, there was no movement in his body,” the relative added.
The family alleges that Akash was beaten up by the police while he was in their custody at the police station and he fell unconscious. However, the police have denied the family’s allegations. A senior police officer told TNM that an inquiry into Akash’s death was underway. “A judicial probe has begun. It is not at all a custodial death. He was drunk and he had consumed some tablets. Everyone knows there are more than ten cases (against him). He was admitted to the hospital by his relatives and not by the police,” the officer said.
A press release from the Chennai City Police said that on September 21, the police received information that Akash was indulging in a quarrel with a woman near Otteri. The police visited the spot, following which Akash was brought to the police station at around 7.30 pm for questioning, the release said. “Akash was in an inebriated condition, so the police informed Akash’s sister Gayatri to come to the police station and take his brother home. She gave a written statement and Akash was allowed to go with her at around 11 pm (sic),” the release added. The press note also claimed that after Akash went home, he consumed drugs and fell unconscious, following which he was admitted to the Kilpauk hospital at 1.25 am on September 22.
TNM visited the Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital mortuary and found that the family of Akash was assisted by Chennai Mayor Priya’s father Rajan, who was present at the spot and kept the family away from the media glare. Speaking to TNM, Rajan denied the allegations levelled by the family members of Akash and said that Akash had health-related issues. “He was not beaten up at the police station. He had health-related problems due to excessive drinking. He was admitted to KMCH for eight days and was under treatment after he developed seizures,” he said. Further, explaining his presence at the mortuary, Rajan said that Akash belonged to “their constituency 74th ward of the Chennai corporation” and that he was present there to support the family members.
Hospital sources also told TNM that a judicial inquiry has been ordered in this matter under Section 176(1)A of The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) (inquiry by magistrate into cause of death), and the 12th Metropolitan Magistrate S Lakshmi is conducting the probe. “This will be considered as a case of suspicious death, and the same procedure followed in cases related to custodial deaths will be followed in this case as well. The patient when he was admitted to the hospital was drowsy and he was being treated here for eight days. His medical records and treatment details will be handed over to the judicial magistrate,” they said.