TGHRC seeks report from Home Department over alleged custodial death of youngster in Telangana’s Suryapet

The Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has sought a detailed report from the Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department, in connection with allegations of illegal detention, custodial torture and death of a young man from Suryapet district.

In an order passed on Monday, December 22, the Commission clubbed two separate complaints relating to the death of Karla Rajesh and directed the Home Department to submit a comprehensive report by the next hearing date. The matter has been posted for further consideration on January 12, 2026.

The first complaint was filed by K. Lalitha, the mother of the deceased, a resident of Kodad town in Suryapet district. She alleged that her son was illegally detained by the police for six days between November 4 and November 9, during which he was subjected to third degree torture. According to her representation, he was subsequently implicated in a false criminal case and remanded to judicial custody on November 10.

The complainant further stated that despite repeated requests, the police at Chilkur did not allow her to meet her son. When he was produced before the magistrate, she claimed that he had visible severe injuries. It was also alleged that before being produced in court, he was administered a Hycort injection in his right hand within the court premises and was later sent to judicial custody.

She submitted that on November 10, she received a call from the staff of Huzurnagar Sub-Jail informing her that her son’s health condition was serious. When she visited the jail, she found him in a critical state. On November 14, he was shifted to the District Government Hospital in Suryapet, and later referred to Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad, where he succumbed to his injuries on November 16.

Holding specific police personnel responsible for her son’s death, the complainant alleged that the Sub-Inspector (SI) of Chilkur Police Station, the Circle Inspector (CI) of Kodad Rural Police Station and few constables from both stations had used third degree methods. She sought directions to register cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the concerned officials, conduct a re-postmortem examination, preserve material evidence and initiate action against senior police officers for alleged negligence.

A second complaint on similar lines was filed by Manda Krishna Madiga, founder president of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi, who also sought retrieval of call data records of constables and home guards concerned and examination of all relevant CCTV footage. He urged the Commission to ensure a fair and comprehensive investigation into the incident.