The CBI special court in Chandigarh is set to announce its sentence on Monday (January 27, 2025) in the high-profile Kotkhai custodial death case where eight police officials, including Inspector General (IG) ZH Zaidi and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Manoj Joshi, have been found guilty.
Justice Alka Malik pronounced the verdict on January 18, holding the accused responsible for the custodial death of Suraj, a Nepalese national, who died due to police brutality in 2017.
The accused officers were immediately taken into custody and sent to Burail Jail following the court’s decision. The incident dates back to the infamous Kotkhai rape and murder case of a Class X student, which led to the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under IG Zaidi.
The SIT had arrested several suspects, including Suraj, who was subjected to brutal torture in police custody, leading to his death.
Public outrage and intervention by the Himachal Pradesh High Court prompted a CBI investigation, which uncovered evidence of custodial torture and subsequent attempts by the accused officers to cover up the crime. Suraj’s post-mortem report by AIIMS confirmed excessive beating as the cause of death.
The sentencing is expected to set a precedent in custodial crime cases and has garnered widespread attention. The prosecution is seeking maximum punishment for the accused officers, citing the grave misuse of power and betrayal of public trust.
Former Shimla Superintendent of Police DW Negi was acquitted due to a lack of evidence against him. The convicted officers face charges under various sections of the IPC, including custodial torture and tampering with evidence.
