Pocso accused found dead in Jaripatka police stn lock-up

Nagpur: A 19-year-old accused in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) and kidnapping case allegedly died by suicide inside the Jaripatka police station lock-up early Thursday morning. He was the sole detainee in the lock-up when he allegedly took the extreme step.After registration of a case of accidental death, the crime branch started a probe, with the State CID set to formally take it up. Four personnel — sub-inspector Nitin Atram (night officer), head constable Abhay Khadse, and constables Pramod Dudhkaware and Rahul Chavan (guard duty) — have been suspended for dereliction of duty. The deceased, Nagendra Bhatia (19), a BSc from Uttar Pradesh, was rounded up in Prayagraj on Jan 18 and brought to Nagpur. Nagendra was arrested on charges of raping a 16-year-old girl from North Nagpur on Jan 20 after rape was confirmed following a medical examination. The survivor befriended Nagendra — a bhajan and kirtan singer — through an acquaintance when she went to Uttar Pradesh to a bhajan venue. Police said Nagendra called the survivor to meet him near Ganesh Tekdi at around noon on Jan 10, took her to a hotel where he allegedly raped her and then dropped her off at her home. At around 8pm the next day, the survivor's mother got angry because of her chatting on mobile. In a fit of anger, the survivor left the house at 4am on Jan 12. When she told Nagendra about this, he called her to Rewa from where he took her to Prayagraj. From Jan 13 to 18, the survivor lived at Nagendra's residence.The survivor's brother lodged a complaint on Jan 11 alleging her abduction. An FIR was registered at Jaripatka police station under Section 137(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for kidnapping. Her phone location details showed that the survivor was in Prayagraj and a police team was sent to bring her back. After bringing both Nagendra and the survivor to Nagpur, she initially refused a medical examination on Jan 19 but consented the next day which confirmed rape. Nagendra was arrested immediately and charged with rape under Pocso Act. The Nagpur sessions court remanded Nagendra in two-day police custody.CCTV footage reportedly captured Nagendra using a bedsheet to hang himself between 4.45am and 5am on Jan 22. His body was discovered around 5.30am when the cops went to check on him at the lock-up.The probe revealed critical lapses, as the sentry guards were absent from their positions, and the night duty officer failed to conduct mandatory checks. Experts from the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory visited the station to collect exhibits and evidence. The CID officials reached the spot and seized CCTV footage. DCP Sandeep Pakhale and ACP Satyavan Bandiwar conducted the initial probe into the circumstances.CP Ravinder Singal and joint CP Navinchandra Reddy rushed to the police station upon learning of the incident. Singal briefed the director general of police (DGP) and the state govt about the matter.The inquest panchnama was videographed in the presence of an executive magistrate. The post-mortem, which will be videographed, will be held at GMCH on Friday .Police authorities stated that the video CD of the post-mortem, along with the full report, was sent to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Delhi for review.The sessions court demanded a detailed report on the case, including the circumstances in which Nagendra committed suicide and relevant CCTV footage, to spot any procedural or supervisory failures.The incident triggered tension at the police station when Nagendra's family arrived. His father, Ramji, was inconsolable, alleging it be a case of murder than suicide. "How can someone commit suicide in police custody? He must have been killed," he said. Family members demanded justice and the minor survivor's presence at the police station. Ramji claimed the survivor's family sought Rs5 lakh to settle the matter, and accused police of delaying notification and access to the body. Officers initially restricted media interaction but later relented. In 2023, a lock-up guard of Jaripatka police station, Sachin Bodele, accidentally fired inside the police station, creating a flutter.