Maharashtra CM Orders SIT Into 18-Year-Old Custodial Death, Invokes Atrocities Act

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to independently investigate the 2007 custodial death of Suman Kale, a member of the Pardhi community, a Scheduled Tribe. The CM has also directed that stringent provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act be invoked against the accused police personnel.

The decision followed a meeting with social activist Girish Prabhune and members of Kale's family seeking justice in the case. Fadnavis specifically directed that the investigation be taken away from the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), stating the matter warrants an independent inquiry. Kale was allegedly arrested by Shrirampur police in Ahmednagar district in May 2007 in connection with a gold robbery case and died in custody. Her brother, Girish Chavan, has alleged she was subjected to severe torture. Police initially presented it as suicide, but after years of legal action, a murder case was registered.