Complaint against then Fategunj PI, PSI and surveillance team for custodial death

Accused for death of theft suspicious and disposed the body

A matter of beating a middle aged man to death after arrested him on suspicion for theft by the Vadodara police came to light in the city.

In a departmental inquiry the then PI and members of surveillance squad of Fatehgunj police station is found to be involved in his death and disposed his body to destroy the evidence. A complaint is registered against all of them.

A middle-aged man was arrested on suspicion of theft a year ago by the then PI of Fatehganj police station and policemen of Surveillance Squad. He was beaten to death and later his body was disposed by the policemen. After investigating the incident, the ACP has registered a complaint against all of them at the Fatehganj police station.

As per the details, a native of Telangana Sheikh Babu Sheikh (age 62) was living in Ahmedabad and sell shawls by visiting various cities everyday including Vadodara. On 10-12-2019 he came to Vadodara with his son-in-law Ibrahim Khan Kasim Khan Pathan also a resident of Telangana and both had breakfast near the ST depot. After that Babu Sheikh put the sheets on the bicycle and went for selling.

Meanwhile the surveillance staff of Fategunj police station detained Sheikh Babu Sheikh on suspicion of the burglary at the house of Satish Thakkar, a resident of TP-13 area. He was brought to Fategunj police station tied with the chairs in the computer room with straps and physically and mentally tortured to make him confess to the theft.

They used the third degree torture to make him confess to the crime by holding a pen between his hand and later he died. After the death of Sheikh Babu Sheikh, the then PI of Fatehganj police station Dharmendrasinh Butaksinh Gohil, P.S.I. Dasharath Madhabhai Rabari and members of surveillance squad Pankaj Mawji, Yogendrasinh Jilansinh, Rajesh Savji and Hitesh Shambhubhai were accused of together disposed the body and destroyed the evidence.

Notably after his father-in-law Sheikh Babu Sheikh not returned to Central ST depot till late at night, Ibrahim khan informed his brother-in-law Salim Babu Sheikh lives in Telangana over phone. Later he gives a missing complaint of Sheikh Babu Sheikh at Sayajiganj police station. ACP of Sayajiganj police station Paresh Bhensania investigated but he was not found.

On the other hand, Sheikh Babu Sheikh’s son Salim Sheikh and son-in-law continued to search the missing Sheikh Babu Sheikh and filed a case in the High Court and the Commissioner of Police.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Anupam Sinh Gahlaut ordered ACP G.S. Patil to do inquiry in the matter. In a lengthy inquiry A.C.P. G.S. Patil record statements of various people and came to the conclusion that, the then PI of Fatehganj police station Dharmendrasinh Gohil and his surveillance staff had detained Sheikh Babu Sheikh and tortured him to death mentally and physically. They are also accused of disposed off his body, destroyed evidence, deleted the copy of complaint and submitted the B summary report.

Based on the investigation a complaint is registered against

1) P.I. Dharmendrasinh Batuksinh Gohil (Res. 61, Sarvodaya Society, Nizampura, Vadodara, originally from Res. Bank Colony, Talaja, Bhavnagar),

2) P.S.I. Dasharathbhai Madhabhai Rabari (Res. Kamalapark Society (Bhagirath) Cadila Road, Ahmedabad, Original Res. Kanijas Mahemdavad, Dist. Kheda)

3) A.L.R. Pankaj Mawji (Chalala Police Station)

4) A.L.R. Yogendrasinh Jilansinh (Res. F-2, Shivasi Society, Chani Jakatnaka, Originally. Kambosani, Sabarkantha)

5) Rajesh Savjibhai (Res. 105, Shivam Residency, Chhani Village Original residence Khanpar Morbi),

6)A.L.R. Hitesh Shambhubhai 118, Analkar Apartment, Chhani Jakatnaka, originally from Plot No.-2427, Near Shivaji Circle, Ghogha Road, Bhavnagar) at Fatehganj police station under sections 304, 201, 203, 204 and 34.

Further investigation is on in the matter.