NHRC asks Telangana DGP to submit report about custodial death of man in Rajendranagar PS

Hyderabad: National Human Rights Commission has launched an inquiry into the alleged custodial death of a 35-year-old auto driver in Hyderabad.

NHRC has directed Telangana DGP Dr Jitender to submit a detailed report within two weeks.

The Commission took suo motu cognisance of a media report detailing the death of Mohd Irfan, who allegedly succumbed to police brutality at the Rajendranagar Police Station on May 13, 2025.

According to the report published on May 14, Irfan was taken to the station by his wife, Nishad Begum, to resolve personal disputes. However, after initial counselling, he was reportedly taken into a separate room and beaten with rubber belts by the police.

Within an hour, Irfan walked out of the police station vomiting and complaining of chest pain before collapsing. He was rushed to Osmania General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The NHRC noted that if the allegations are true, they constitute a serious violation of human rights and custodial protocol. It has asked the Director General of Police to include in the report the steps taken by the authorities, details of any FIR registered, and action initiated against the officials involved.

Irfan, a resident of Dargah Kalich Khan in Kismatpur and originally from Mysore, Karnataka, was the father of three children. Police sources said he was allegedly involved in a relationship with another married woman, which had caused repeated tensions at home.

On May 13 night, following a confrontation between the families, both Irfan and the woman were taken to the police station for mediation. Police claimed that after being counselled, Irfan suddenly collapsed while leaving the premises. However, his brother, Mohd Sadiq, alleged that Irfan was tortured inside the station.

"We heard him crying. When we tried to go in, the police blocked us. After he came out, he was vomiting and collapsed right there," Sadiq told reporters. A case has been registered under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for death under suspicious circumstances.

An internal inquiry is underway, and the postmortem report is awaited to establish the exact cause of death. The incident has sparked outrage among civil society groups and rights activists, who have demanded an independent judicial probe into the case and accountability of the officials involved.