The government today admitted in the Lok Sabha that instances of custodial deaths in Maharashtra was a “little more” in comparison to other states.
Replying to queries on the issue during Question Hour, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijju gave statistics of nationwide custodial deaths. He said the data revealed that there were 35 such deaths in Maharashtra in 2013, 21 in 2014 and 19 in 2015, which were highest among all states.
Rijiju said there were enough guidelines and directives issued by the National Human Rights Commission and the Supreme Court under which immediate action is taken against policemen responsible for custodial deaths.
Seeking to counter the minister, BJP member Satyapal Singh, a former Commissioner of Mumbai Police, said Maharashtra Police and Mumbai Police were the best police forces in the country evoking laughter among some members.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan remarked, “We will have to find out your records”, leading to another bout of laughter by the MPs.
Singh said all custodial deaths cannot be described as deaths under police custody, as many of them are deaths under judicial custody, some could be natural deaths or some could be death due to illness.
However, former Union home secretary RK Singh and former Jharkhand director general police of VD Ram, both BJP MPs, seemed to disagree with Satyapal Singh and wanted to speak. But the Speaker disallowed them and moved to the next question.
RK Singh and Ram were seen gesturing towards Satyapal Singh suggesting that they would like to have a chat with him on the issue.