A man wanted in 18 cases died in police custody under mysterious circumstances in Delhi's Subhash Place police station on Sunday. The police said the deceased, identified as Sheikh Sahadat, 36, died of natural causes. The incident took place around 6.30 am.  The deceased, Sheikh Sahadat, was a resident of Delhi's Jahangirpuri. He, along with four others, was arrested on Saturday, a senior police officer said.

Sahadat was previously involved in more than 18 criminal cases, police said. The accused were produced before a court, which sent Sahadat to police custody for a day, whereas the others were remanded in judicial custody, the officer said.

An FIR was lodged against them under sections 25, 35, 54, 59 Arms Act at police station Subhash Place on July 21.

"The deceased, along with four others, was arrested on July 22. The accused persons were produced before the court, and accused Sheikh Shadat was on PC remand for one day for the sake of the investigation of the case, whereas the others were sent to judicial custody," said the official. A medical examination of the accused was conducted on Saturday evening. Subsequently, he was taken to the police station and lodged in the lockup, police said.

Around 6.30 am, an on-duty police personnel noticed heavy breathing by Sahadat. He informed the duty officer and Sahadat was rushed to the BSA hospital, where he was declared brought dead, police said. The family of the deceased has alleged that he was murdered. The police have initiated an inquiry into the matter.