Supreme Court orders CBI probe into custodial death, calls state cover-up sacrilegious

The case concerns the legal heirs of Shri Shravan Suryavanshi seeking a fair investigation into his custodial death and adequate compensation, challenging the High Court's decision which awarded only ₹1 lakh and did not direct a criminal investigation.

Who it concerns: Petitioners: Lahra Bai Tamre & Ors. (wife and children of the deceased); Respondents: State of Chhattisgarh & Ors.; Bench: Justice Mehta.

What the court decided

• The Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe into the custodial death.
• The Court granted compensation of ₹25 Lakh to the petitioners.
• The Court noted that the High Court had previously awarded ₹1 Lakh and failed to direct an FIR or investigation.

Also in the document

• The Court described the stance of the Director General of Police and other senior state officers as 'sacrilegious' and a 'cover-up story' for failing to act on the judicial inquiry report.
• The Court noted a discrepancy between the initial jail medical report (attributing death to alcoholic withdrawal) and the post-mortem report (attributing death to head injury).
• The matter was heard in the Extra Ordinary Appellate Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.