The family of the 32-year-old man found hanging in the toilet of north-west Delhi’s Jahangirpuri police station suspect foul play.
The family has alleged that Raj Kumar was ill-treated at the police station when he was called for questioning.
Mr. Kumar’s brother Pradeep alleged that he may have been beaten or humiliated inside the police station, which drove him to commit suicide.
‘Difficult to believe’
“He was a strong man. It’s difficult to believe that he committed suicide. He may have been beaten or pressurised into confessing to something he didn’t do, which may have led to the suicide,” Mr. Pradeep said.
Refusing to comment on the charges levelled by the family, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (north-west) Vijayanta Arya said, “A magisterial inquiry has been initiated. We’ll wait for the report.”
Mr. Kumar’s friend Dharmendra also expressed doubts. “The police said he had used his gamcha to hang himself. But it wasn’t long enough to be used for hanging,” he said.
Another relative Ankit Pachauri claimed the family was told by the police that Mr. Kumar was undergoing treatment at a hospital.
“The police called his family around 9 a.m. on Wednesday and told them that he had been admitted to a hospital. His family called me. I was informed of his death when I reached the hospital around 11 a.m.,” he said. Mr. Pradeep corroborated Mr. Pachauri’s statement that they were informed about the death by him and not the police.