In a significant development, the District Magistrate Jammu has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of an accused who died on Sunday while in police custody at Gandhinagar Police Station.
The deceased has been identified as Parveen Kumar, a resident of Panipat, Haryana, who was arrested along with four others from Kolkata in connection with an alleged job fraud and ransom case. The accused were brought to Jammu on transit remand following their arrest in a coordinated operation by police teams.
According to officials, Kumar had been in police custody since March 25 and was under remand till March 30. Police sources stated that standard procedures were being followed, including regular medical examinations, with the latest check-up conducted earlier in the day at the Police Hospital Jammu.
However, later on Sunday, Kumar reportedly complained of severe abdominal pain. Acting promptly, police shifted him to Government Hospital Gandhinagar, where doctors declared him brought dead.
Authorities have maintained that all prescribed precautions were adhered to during custody and that the accused was under continuous medical supervision. Despite this, the sudden death has led to heightened scrutiny and the initiation of multiple legal and procedural steps to determine the exact cause.
A board of doctors at Government Medical College Jammu is conducting the post-mortem examination. Officials said the autopsy is being carried out in the presence of the deceased’s family members and an executive magistrate to ensure transparency and adherence to legal norms.
Meanwhile, police have preserved CCTV footage and other relevant evidence from the custody period. An inquest proceeding has also been initiated, while the magisterial inquiry ordered by the District Magistrate is expected to independently examine all aspects of the case.
Background of the Case
The case traces back to a complaint filed by one Jagmohan Singh, who alleged that his son, Maninder Singh, along with his associate Tushar Chib, had been wrongfully confined in Kolkata. The complainant reported that unidentified individuals were demanding a ransom of ₹35 lakh for their release.
Acting on the complaint, police constituted a special team that rushed to Kolkata. Through technical surveillance and coordination with local police, the team traced the accused to a hotel. On March 21, 2026, both victims were safely rescued, and five accused, including Parveen Kumar, were apprehended.
Investigators also recovered materials allegedly used to restrain the victims. During the probe, the involvement of two Jammu-based agents came to light, who had reportedly lured the victims on the pretext of arranging overseas work visas.
Police further revealed that an amount of ₹34 lakh, paid by the victims’ family, has been successfully recovered. Efforts are ongoing to unravel the wider network and establish the full extent of the conspiracy.
Further details regarding the custodial death are awaited as the magisterial inquiry and investigation progress.