Agra Judicial Magistrate Directs FIR Registration in Custodial Torture Case
A chief judicial magistrate court in Agra has issued a directive for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against a police sub-inspector, a hardware store proprietor, and three of his family members. The case involves serious allegations of assault and custodial torture, including the use of electric shocks, against a 41-year-old former employee.
Allegations of False Implication and Brutal Custodial Treatment
According to the detailed complaint, the victim, Omveer Singh Tomar, a resident of Agra, was accused by his former employer, Bhajanlal Hoth Chandani, of stealing items from his hardware shop located in the Belanganj area. Tomar had been employed at the establishment for a monthly salary of Rs 15,000 but had reportedly left the job days prior to the alleged theft incident on August 26, 2025.
The complaint states that despite Tomar's assertion of having already resigned, the shop owner proceeded to falsely implicate him. Subsequently, Sub-Inspector Sukhvinder Singh, who was then in charge of the Gudri Mansoor Khan police outpost, allegedly picked up Tomar. He was taken first to the outpost and then to the police station.
Demand for Money and Alleged Torture with Electric Shocks
At the police station, Tomar claims he was pressured to settle the matter and was confronted with a demand for Rs 4 lakh. Upon his refusal to pay the substantial sum, the situation escalated dramatically. The complainant alleges he was subjected to severe physical assault while in custody.
Most disturbingly, the complaint details that Tomar was tortured with electric shocks, a method of interrogation that constitutes a grave violation of human rights and legal protocols. The FIR application highlights a critical investigative lapse, noting that despite the presence of 22 CCTV cameras at the shop, the footage was never examined by the investigating officer.
Allegations of Bribery and Fabricated Evidence
Further compounding the allegations, Tomar claims that Sub-Inspector Sukhvinder Singh accepted a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the shop owner. To justify the arrest, the officer allegedly presented old, broken items as recovered stolen goods, thereby fabricating evidence.
After spending a month in jail before being released on bail, Tomar approached senior police officials seeking justice. Frustrated by the lack of action from the police hierarchy, he was compelled to seek legal intervention through the judicial magistrate's court.
Legal Charges and Police Response
Inspector Ankur Malik of the Chatta police station confirmed the court's directive. The FIR is to be registered against Sub-Inspector Sukhvinder Singh, who is currently posted at the Agra Police Commissionerate, hardware store owner Bhajanlal Hoth Chandani, and his relatives Jeetu Hoth Chandani, Arjun, and Gaurav.
The charges invoked fall under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and include:
- Section 351(2) for criminal intimidation
- Section 115 for voluntarily causing hurt
- Section 191 for rioting
This case has brought to light serious concerns regarding police conduct, custodial procedures, and the vulnerability of individuals to false accusations and brutality. The court's intervention underscores the judiciary's role in upholding the rule of law and protecting citizens from alleged abuse of power by authorities and civilians alike.
