Taking a stern stance in the case involving the death of recovery agent Deepak Shukla while in police custody in Ludhiana, a court has ordered that murder charges be framed against four police personnel, including the then female SHO. This court verdict, pertaining to a case nearly six years old, has sent shockwaves through the police department.
Ludhiana man died in Police custody in 2020
The incident dates back to February 2020, when the police picked up Deepak Shukla and his wife, Preeti, from their home on suspicion of vehicle theft. It is alleged that the police demanded ₹1.25 lakh in exchange for their release. When the family was unable to pay the full amount, Preeti was released after paying ₹25,000, while a case was registered against Deepak, and he was kept in custody.
According to his family members, he was subjected to severe torture while in custody, causing his condition to deteriorate rapidly; he subsequently passed away on the night of February 26, 2020.
Death after severe injury leading to organ damage
Medical evidence and a judicial inquiry subsequently exposed the police’s claims as false. Testimony provided by Dr. Gurbinder Kaur, the SMO of Jagraon, revealed that Deepak’s body bore seven distinct marks of severe injury, which had caused damage to his internal organs.
The report submitted by the Judicial Magistrate also raised serious questions regarding the conduct of the police.
The court has framed charges—including murder and other relevant sections of the law—against the then SHO Richa Sharma, ASI Jaskaran Singh, ASI Charanjit Singh, and Constable Jugnu, thereby making it unequivocally clear that crimes committed under the guise of the police uniform will not be tolerated.