Mumbai CBI court convicts two policemen for torturing detainee to death, sentences them to 7 years
Mumbai: In a rare conviction for custodial torture, a special CBI court in Mumbai on Tuesday sentenced two police officials to seven years’ imprisonment for assaulting detainee Altaf Shaikh, who later died in custody on September 11, 2009. The court also imposed a fine of ₹62,000 on each of the convicted officers, directing that ₹1 lakh be paid to Shaikh’s mother, Mehrunissa Kadir Shaikh.
Convicted officers and case background
The convicted policemen, Sub-Inspector Sanjay Khedekar (55) and Head Constable Raghunath Kolekar (62), were found guilty under Section 330 of the Indian Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt to extort a confession. A third accused, Police Naik Sayaji Thombare, died in 2023 during the pendency of the trial.
The officers were not arrested during the investigation as the offence was bailable. The case was initially registered after Shaikh’s mother approached the Bombay High Court, which ordered a CBI inquiry in October 2009.
While acquitting the officers of murder charges, the court observed that Shaikh’s death was due to “respiratory failure resulting from the combined effect of Alprazolam toxicity, ethyl alcohol, and lung pneumonia.” However, it accepted that Shaikh was indeed assaulted in police custody, sustaining injuries that could not be adequately explained.
According to the CBI, Shaikh, a driver by profession, had several theft cases registered against him and had been externed to Jalna. On the morning of September 11, 2009, Khedekar, Kolekar, and Thombare allegedly assaulted him at his residence and on the road before taking him to Ghatkopar Police Station. By 9 a.m., he was found unresponsive and was declared dead on arrival at Rajawadi Hospital.
A magistrate’s order in November 2013 added the charges of murder and custodial assault to the case. The prosecution, represented by Sunil Gonsalves and Abhijeet Sarnobat, examined 29 witnesses, including the victim’s family and eyewitnesses.
Although the inquest panchnama found no external injuries, the post-mortem report noted scalp contusions and internal haemorrhage. Forensic experts differed on whether the head injury or toxic substances caused death. AIIMS experts concluded that respiratory failure due to combined toxicity and pneumonia was likely.
Given the conflicting medical opinions, the court extended the benefit of doubt to the accused on the murder charge but held them guilty of custodial assault.
Following the verdict, Shaikh’s mother expressed dissatisfaction, stating she plans to appeal for an enhanced sentence. She recounted the hardship faced during the long legal battle, saying she and her daughter balanced household work with continuous court appearances over the years.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
