Supreme Court gives three more months to CBI to complete probe in custodial death case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (October 13, 2026) granted three more months to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to complete its probe into the circumstances leading to the custodial death of a 34-year-old man in Chhattisgarh in 2024.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta noted that in its sealed cover report, the agency has sought more time to take the investigation to its logical conclusion.

On August 12, the top court had ordered a CBI probe into the death of Shravan Suryavanshi, who was lodged in Bilaspur Central Jail when he died in 2024, and directed the state to pay compensation of Rs 25 lakh to his wife and children.

The court had also asked the CBI director to ensure that a regular criminal case was registered against those responsible for his death.

On Tuesday (October 13), the bench granted three months to the probe agency to complete the investigation and posted the matter for further hearing on February 2.

Slamming the Chhattisgarh authorities on August 12, the apex court had said the explanation offered that neither any police action nor any disciplinary action was taken against those responsible because the judicial inquiry report had not been served upon the police officials was a "cover-up story and an attempt to pull the wool over the court's eyes".

It had said the facts warranted the immediate registration of an FIR and a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to Suryavanshi's death, which the state authorities conveniently and deliberately tried to cover up.

"In the facts and circumstances of the case, we are of the firm opinion that the ends of justice require that the investigation into the circumstances leading to the custodial death of Shravan be entrusted to the CBI and that all officials found responsible for the custodial violence, upon completion of the investigation, be proceeded against and prosecuted in accordance with law," the top court had said.

It had passed the order on a plea filed by Mr. Suryavanshi's wife and children challenging an October 2024 order of the Chhattisgarh High Court, which held that he was subjected to custodial violence and died as a result thereof.

The High Court had passed the order on the plea seeking compensation of ₹50 lakh and appropriate action against officers responsible for the custodial death.

The apex court had noted that the High Court granted a meagre compensation of ₹1 lakh to the petitioners and completely overlooked the prayer made for directing action against officers who were responsible for the custodial death.

It noted that Suryavanshi was apprehended in connection with an FIR lodged in Bilaspur under the Chhattisgarh Excise Act.

According to the FIR, he was found in possession of three bottles containing 6 litres of raw 'mahua' liquor valued at ₹1,200.

It noted that Suryavanshi was lodged at Central Jail, Bilaspur, from where he was referred to a hospital on January 21, 2024, owing to the deterioration of his health. He died during treatment the next day.

The top court had said Suryavanshi was in custody at the time of death and the jail superintendent had sent a letter to the district and sessions judge requesting that a judicial inquiry be conducted into the custodial death.

An inquiry under Section 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was assigned to a judicial magistrate, first class, Bilaspur.

The top court had said the judicial magistrate conducted the inquiry and submitted a report dated July 22, 2024, stating that the death appeared to have been caused due to complications arising from a head injury.