38-Year-Old Man Dies In Navi Mumbai Police Custody, Probe Underway

A man died in police custody in Navi Mumbai on October 8 after his condition deteriorated inside the lock-up at NRI Sagari Police Station.

Sanjay Kantu Yadav, 38, a resident of Ananta Tower in Ulwe Sector 6, had been arrested by Navi Mumbai International Airport Police in connection with a case. A court had remanded him in police custody.

Yadav’s Condition Deteriorated in Lock-Up

According to police, Yadav was lodged in the lock-up at NRI Sagari Police Station on October 8. Lock-up staff noticed him clenching his fists and repeatedly flexing his arms and legs.

When his condition worsened, police officers took him to Meenatai Thackeray Hospital in Nerul. Doctors declared him dead while he was undergoing treatment.

Yadav was originally from Varanasi district in Uttar Pradesh.

Police said he had undergone a medical examination at Panvel Rural Hospital before his arrest. He did not report any health problems when he was produced before the court.

A further medical examination conducted on October 6 also reportedly found no health complaint raised by Yadav.

Inquest Being Videographed

Senior police officials have been informed about the death.

An inquest report is being prepared through videography in the presence of the Belapur First Class Judicial Magistrate, panch witnesses and members of Yadav’s family.

The body has been sent to J.J. Hospital in Mumbai for a post-mortem examination. Police said further legal proceedings are underway.

Earlier Custody Death Under Investigation

The incident comes after another custody death in Maharashtra in September.

On September 22, the Maharashtra Police Crime Investigation Department (CID) was investigating the death of 35-year-old Imran Shaikh, who died while in the custody of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai.

Shaikh had travelled to Mumbai from Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh in search of employment.

According to Central Railway officials, Shaikh had approached the main RPF post at CSMT on September 20 to enquire about trains to Khandwa. 

Officials said Shaikh appeared agitated and claimed that people were trying to kill him. They alleged that he later became aggressive and attacked RPF Sub-Inspector Aniket.