The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a CBI probe into alleged illegal detention and custodial torture leading to “complete castration” of a constable by the Jammu and Kashmir Police at the Joint Interrogation Centre, Kupwara, in the Union Territory in February, 2023.AdvertisementA Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, which directed the CBI to register a case within seven days, also directed the Director, CBI, to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police to investigate the matter.“The police officials found responsible for the custodial torture shall be arrested forthwith and not later than a period of one month from today. The investigation shall be completed within 90 days of the date of registration of the RC,” it ordered.“The entire material collected in enquiry conducted so far, including all related documents, medical records, CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and case diary, shall be immediately handed over to the competent officer of the CBI,” the Bench ordered.Allowing constable Khursheed Ahmad Chohan’s appeal against the September 18, 2023, judgment, the top court also ordered the UT Administration to pay Rs 50 lakh as compensation to him “in order to provide some solace to the victim and his family for the barbaric acts of custodial torture leading to complete castration…”It listed the matter again on November 17, 2025, for receiving a status report.Writing the judgment for the Bench, Justice Mehta directed, “The said amount shall be recoverable from the officer(s) concerned against whom a departmental proceeding shall be initiated upon conclusion of the investigation by the CBI. The CBI shall submit its status report to this Court by 10th November, 2025.”“…considering the gravity and magnitude of the custodial torture established through medical records and the institutional apathy that followed, we are of the considered opinion that this is a fit case for awarding compensation to the victim of the violence, i.e., the appellant herein. The violation of Article 21 is not only evident but egregious. The appellant, a police constable himself, suffered life-debilitating injuries while in the custody of fellow state actors, and despite repeated complaints, no effective redress was provided,” it noted.“The CBI shall also conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the systemic issues at the Joint Interrogation Centre, Kupwara, including examination of all CCTV systems, interrogation from all personnel present during the relevant period, forensic examination of the premises, and review of all protocols and procedures followed for detention and interrogation of suspects,” the Bench ordered.Chohan alleged that he was illegally detained and tortured at the Joint Interrogation Centre, Kupwara, after being summoned for a narcotics inquiry in February 2023. His wife’s attempts to register an FIR for custodial torture didn’t fructify while the police registered a case against him for an alleged suicide attempt. The High Court refused to quash the FIR forcing him to move the top court.
SC orders CBI probe into custodial torture of J-K cop, arrest of accused police officers
