High Court Intervenes in Shocking Custodial Torture Case
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stepped into a controversial case involving alleged brutal custodial torture of a murder accused, sending shockwaves through the legal and law enforcement communities. Justice Suvir Sehgal issued formal notices to the Punjab Government and three Ludhiana police officials following a petition filed by Sanjeev Kumar, a 40-year-old man accused in the Sonam Jain murder case.
Graphic Allegations of Police Brutality
Sanjeev Kumar, who maintains his innocence and has no prior criminal record, has made disturbing claims about his treatment in police custody. According to his petition, he was illegally detained on July 4, 2025 - a full day before his official arrest in connection with FIR No. 115/2025 registered at Salem Tabri police station.
The allegations paint a horrifying picture of police misconduct. Kumar claims he was subjected to electric shocks on his private parts, severe beatings, water submersion, and psychological torture. In what appears to be a particularly cruel tactic, officers allegedly summoned his mother at midnight and forced her to witness the assault while threatening to "strip and violate" her unless he confessed to the murder.
Medical Evidence and Government Denial
The case took a dramatic turn when Kumar's counsel, Rajat Malhotra, presented "before and after" photographs in court showing the extent of injuries sustained during custody. The petition alleges that police procured "sham medical reports" from Civil Hospital Ludhiana showing no injuries, but when produced before a magistrate on July 6, visible bruises prompted a fresh examination that confirmed electric burn marks and blunt force trauma.
The Punjab Government has vehemently denied all allegations, asserting that Kumar was housed in an "ordinary cell" with no opportunity for torture. Government counsel maintained that CCTV footage from the crime scene implicates Kumar in the Sonam Jain murder and all proper procedures were followed during the investigation.
Legal Battle and Demands
The petition, filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution, describes the alleged treatment as a "flagrant violation" of fundamental rights under Articles 21 and 22. It invokes Supreme Court guidelines established in the landmark D K Basu vs State of West Bengal case from 1997 concerning arrest safeguards.
Kumar's legal team has made several significant demands including:
- Court-monitored judicial inquiry into the incident
- Registration of FIR against four named police officers
- Transfer of murder investigation to independent agency or SIT
- Interim compensation of Rs 5 lakh
- Fresh medical examination at PGIMER Chandigarh
Justice Sehgal has given the respondents two weeks to file their responses, with the next hearing scheduled for January 28. The case has drawn attention to Kumar's personal circumstances - he is the sole breadwinner for his three minor daughters, adding another layer of complexity to this developing legal drama.
