The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday directed the Maharashtra Government to show cause as to why it should not recommend a monetary relief of Rs5 lakh to the next of kin of 20-year-old Manoj Shivnath Salve, who died due to torture in custody of the Vanrai police at Goregaon (East) in north Mumbai in October 2013.
In its show-cause notice to the Maharashtra Government, Justice D Murugesan, Member, NHRC, asked the State Chief Secretary to file his say within six weeks.
Justice Murugesan also directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Andheri (East), Mumbai to submit a report, within six weeks, on the final outcome of a departmental inquiry pending against the four police personnel, who were suspended, later arrested and charge-sheeted under sections 302/324/331/34 IPC, in connection with the custodial death of Manoj Salve.
On the basis of material on record, the Commission has found that Manoj Salve’s death was on account of police torture, a fact that has been established in the post mortem report, which has revealed that there were 56 external injuries (multiple contusions, abrasions, fresh ante-mortem) on the body of the deceased boy.
The CBCID investigations have revealed that Manoj Salve was captured and beaten by public in connection with an attempted theft in the Exhibition Centre, Goregaon (East), Mumbai on October 26, 2013.
later, he was handed over to the Vanrai police, who brought him to the Detection Room of Varnai Police Station, Goregaon, for interrogation. The CBCID investigations have revealed that the accused boy collapsed, while in exclusive custody of four police personnel of Detection Squad.