MSHRC Issues Notices to Pune Police Chief, 11 Others Over Alleged Custodial Torture

The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission has issued notices to Pune Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone IV) Chilumula Rajnikant, and 10 other police personnel, prima facie holding them responsible for alleged negligence in safeguarding human rights in connection with the public humiliation and custodial torture of a 20-year-old accused linked to Laxmi Nagar Police Station.

The Commission observed that the Pune Commissioner of Police had failed to submit required reports regarding the incident despite prior directions. The Commission noted that the failure to file a response indicated that the Commissioner had no rebuttal to offer and had prima facie accepted the allegations.

According to the Commission's order, the Commissioner of Police, as the head of the city force, appeared prima facie guilty of negligence in preventing violations and protecting the victim's rights. Two reports concerning the incident had been received by email on July 29, 2026, purportedly signed by the DCP, Zone IV, Pune. Upon reviewing them, the Commission observed that both the Commissioner and the DCP, serving as supervisory authorities over personnel at Laxmi Nagar Police Station, showed negligence.

The complaints and annexed photographs alleged that the accused, identified as Sultan Rehman Shaikh, was taken into custody, paraded through busy streets, and subjected to custodial torture in full view of the public. He was verbally abused, forced to squat, and made to issue a public apology before a crowd of local residents. The Commission remarked that the Pune Police Department appeared to have imposed physical punishment rather than adhering to due process of law.

Under Section 16 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, notices were issued to give the affected officers an opportunity to be heard and present evidence. Alongside Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and DCP Chilumula Rajnikant, notices were issued to Senior Police Inspector Ravindra Mansingh Kadam, Assistant Police Inspector Shivaji Marotirao Vibhute, Police Sub-Inspector Mahesh Hariba Nalawade, and Police Constables Amol Arun Gaikwad, Amol Chandrakant Wayal, Bhimrao Suryakant Kamble, Dattatray Bapu Shinde, Qadir Kalandar Shaikh, and Suraj Hirachand Ambase, all of Laxmi Nagar Police Station, as well as Assistant Police Inspector Ravikant Sudhakar Nandanwar, currently posted at the Yerwada Traffic Division.

In line with Regulation 16(4) of the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (Procedure) Regulations, 2011, the Commission directed that the two complaints be placed before a Division Bench. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on September 9.