Navi Mumbai custody death: Man, 38, dies at NRI Sagari lock-up on 8 October
Synopsis
A 38-year-old man arrested by Navi Mumbai International Airport Police collapsed in a police lock-up on 8 October and was declared dead at hospital — with no prior health complaints on record. It is the second custody-related death in Maharashtra in under three weeks, raising pointed questions about lock-up medical protocols.
Key Takeaways
Sanjay Kantu Yadav , 38 , died in the lock-up at NRI Sagari Police Station , Navi Mumbai, on 8 October 2026 .
He had been arrested by Navi Mumbai International Airport Police and remanded to police custody by a court.
Medical examinations on 6 October and at Panvel Rural Hospital before arrest recorded no health complaints .
An inquest is being conducted under the Belapur First Class Judicial Magistrate ; the body has been sent to J.J.
Hospital for post-mortem.
Less than three weeks earlier, Imran Shaikh , 35 , died in RPF custody at CSMT — now being investigated by Maharashtra's CID .
Sanjay Kantu Yadav, a 38-year-old man, died while in police custody at the NRI Sagari Police Station in Navi Mumbai on 8 October 2026, marking the latest in a string of custody-related deaths in Maharashtra. Yadav had been arrested by the Navi Mumbai International Airport Police in connection with an unspecified case and was subsequently remanded to police custody by a court.
What Happened at the Lock-Up
According to police, Yadav was lodged in the lock-up at NRI Sagari Police Station when staff observed him clenching his fists and flexing his arms and legs. As his condition rapidly deteriorated, officers rushed him to Meenatai Thackeray Hospital in Nerul, where he was declared dead during treatment.
Yadav had been a resident of Ananta Tower, Ulwe Sector 6, in Navi Mumbai and was originally from Varanasi district in Uttar Pradesh.
Medical History Before Custody
Police stated that Yadav had undergone a medical examination at Panvel Rural Hospital prior to his arrest and reported no health problems at that stage. He also did not disclose any illness or health-related complaints when produced before the court. Notably, a separate medical examination conducted on 6 October similarly recorded no complaints from him.
The absence of any flagged pre-existing condition is likely to be central to any inquiry into the circumstances of his death.
Inquiry and Post-Mortem Proceedings
Senior police officials have been informed of the incident. An inquest is being conducted through videography in the presence of the Belapur First Class Judicial Magistrate, panch witnesses, and members of the deceased's family. The body has been sent to J.J. Hospital in Mumbai for a post-mortem examination. Police confirmed that further legal proceedings are underway.
Not an Isolated Incident in Maharashtra
This is not the first such case in the state in recent weeks. On 22 September, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Maharashtra Police launched a probe into the death of Imran Shaikh, a 35-year-old man who died while in the custody of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai.
Shaikh, who had come to the city from Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh in search of employment, had reportedly visited the main RPF post on 20 September making enquiries about trains. Officials stated he appeared agitated, claimed people were trying to kill him, became aggressive, attacked RPF Sub-Inspector Aniket, and also inflicted injuries on himself, according to the official account.
The back-to-back incidents have drawn renewed scrutiny to custody protocols and medical oversight procedures at police lock-ups across Maharashtra. The outcome of the post-mortem report in Yadav's case is expected to determine the direction of further legal action.
Point of View
One in a regular police lock-up — expose a structural gap in how detainees' health is monitored between a medical clearance and actual confinement. Pre-custody medical checks are clearly insufficient if a man with two clean bills of health can collapse hours into detention. The reliance on visual observation by lock-up staff, rather than any systematic monitoring protocol, is the accountability question neither probe has yet publicly addressed.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sanjay Kantu Yadav and why was he arrested?
Sanjay Kantu Yadav was a 38-year-old resident of Ananta Tower, Ulwe Sector 6, in Navi Mumbai, originally from Varanasi district in Uttar Pradesh. He was arrested by the Navi Mumbai International Airport Police in connection with a case, the specific details of which have not been officially disclosed. A court subsequently remanded him to police custody.
What were the circumstances of his death?
Yadav was lodged in the lock-up at NRI Sagari Police Station on 8 October when staff noticed him clenching his fists and flexing his arms and legs. His condition deteriorated rapidly and he was rushed to Meenatai Thackeray Hospital in Nerul, where he was declared dead during treatment.
Did Yadav have any known health issues before his death?
According to police, Yadav underwent a medical examination at Panvel Rural Hospital before his arrest and reported no health problems. A further medical examination on 6 October also recorded no illness or complaints. He similarly did not report any health issues when produced before the court.
What investigation is underway into the death?
An inquest is being conducted through videography in the presence of the Belapur First Class Judicial Magistrate, panch witnesses, and the deceased's family members. The body has been sent to J.J. Hospital in Mumbai for a post-mortem examination, and police have confirmed that further legal proceedings are underway.
Is this the first custody death in Maharashtra recently?
No. On 22 September, a 35-year-old man named Imran Shaikh died while in RPF custody at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai. That case is being investigated by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Maharashtra Police. Yadav's death is the second such incident in the state in under three weeks.
