Pramesh S Jain
The Bengaluru City Police Commissioner on Tuesday suspended an inspector and three other officers in Bengaluru for allegedly torturing a 22-year-old Dalit man in police custody,leading to his death later.
The accused are Inspector Shivakumar from the Viveknagar police station, Constable Pavan,two other officers,and the owner of Unity Social Service Trust Rehabilitation Centre,located in Adakamaranahalli, which falls under Madanayakanahalli police limits.
A fact-finding team from the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has alleged that 28-year-old Darshan Singamalai,died after severe custodial torture by personnel of the Vivekanagar Police Station and demanded judicial inquiry and immediate action against the officials involved and protection for the victim’s family,who belong to a Scheduled Caste community.
According to PUCL,Darshan was picked up at around 1:30 a.m.on November 12, 2025,by two policemen accused him of showing a knife to food-delivery boys.
When Darshan’s mother,Adilakshmi,and brother questioned the officers,they were allegedly told he was a “rowdy”and taken to the station for questioning .
PUCL’s report states that Darshan was detained illegally for four days brutally assaulted with lathis and pipes inside the police station.
Despite repeated visits by his mother on November 13, officers allegedly refused to release him.
On November 16,police personnel allegedly forced the family to send Darshan to a private rehabilitation centre in Adakamaranahalli,claiming he needed alcohol-deaddiction treatment.
At the rehab facility,Darshan reportedly could not walk without support,and staff were instructed by police to falsely state that he“fell from a bike”.
Darshan remained at the centre for over a week.On November 26,his family received a call informing them that he had developed breathing complications and died.
At the Nelamangala Government Hospital,doctors reportedly showed the family injuries on his chest,back, legs,hands,and feet—consistent with custodial assault.
The Madanayakanahalli Police registered a UDR and moved the body for post-mortem to Victoria Hospital.
Doctors noted visible injuries,according to PUCL,and recorded a detailed statement from Adilakshmi.
The fact-finding report also alleges that after Darshan’s death,8–12 police personnel threatened his wife Ashwini,attempting to coerce her into withdrawing the complaint.
PUCL Demands Action:
The PUCL and the Association of Prisoners’ Families for Justice (APFJ) have urged the Karnataka government to provide protection to Darshan’s family.
Protect and safeguard widow Ashwini from alleged police threats.
Arrest the Vivekanagar Police Station personnel responsible for the alleged custodial death and suspend them pending trial.
Invoke the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Order a judicial inquiry monitored by the CID.
The family,which depends on irregular daily-wage income,says they fear retaliation and have demanded justice for Darshan’s death.
City based human right Activist,T.Narasimhamurthy,said that the state government and the human Rights commission failed to do due diligence despite clear Supreme Court directions on the custodial death case.
The case has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for investigation.
