A 31-year-old man died at Sassoon General Hospital after visiting Lohgaon police station in connection with a neighbourhood dispute, prompting his family to allege custodial assault while Pune Police said medical records and preliminary examination findings did not show external injuries.
Akash Devdas Ghalot died at around noon on October 9, according to a complaint submitted by his mother, Geeta Ghalot, to the Pune police commissioner. The family has sought an independent investigation by a senior police officer who is not associated with Lohgaon police station.
In the complaint, Ghalot’s mother alleged that her son told her and his sister before his death that senior police inspector Manisha Patil, assistant police inspector Santosh Shinde and other personnel had beaten him with sticks and belts, kicked him and punched him inside the station. The complaint said Ghalot did not disclose the alleged assault earlier because he had allegedly been threatened with imprisonment.
The complaint stated that Ghalot’s health deteriorated on October 8 and that he was admitted to Sassoon Hospital. On the morning of October 9, he allegedly told his mother and sister about the assault before dying later that day.
DCP (Zone 7) Abinash Kumar disputed the family’s account. He said the matter began with a dispute involving neighbours and housing society members on October 3, when cross non-cognisable complaints were registered. Since the complaints were non-cognisable, Kumar said, there was no question of taking the individuals into custody or arresting them.
According to the DCP, the parties visited Lohgaon police station on October 5 to file complaints and record their statements. Their movements were captured by CCTV cameras installed on the premises, he said, adding that family members and other society residents were also present at the time.
Kumar said Ghalot was admitted to Sassoon Hospital on October 8 with complaints of a throat infection and elevated blood sugar levels. He said the hospital’s medical records referred to those conditions. The DCP also said that no external injuries were found during the inquest or postmortem examination.
The postmortem was conducted with videography in the presence of the deceased’s relatives, Kumar said. However, the final postmortem report has not yet been received, and further legal procedures are continuing.
The family has asked authorities to preserve CCTV footage from inside the station, its entrance and surrounding areas for October 5. It has also sought the preservation and examination of station diary entries, duty registers, attendance records and other electronic evidence, along with scrutiny of Ghalot’s medical records and postmortem findings.
The complaint further requests statements from witnesses who may have information about the alleged assault and protection for family members and witnesses against possible pressure or intimidation. The family has sought registration of a criminal case and legal action, including arrest if warranted, against those found responsible. It has also threatened to hold a protest outside Lohgaon police station. The final postmortem report and any investigation into the competing accounts are pending.
