Karnataka custodial death: 2 cops arrested in Vijayanagara labourer case
Synopsis
A 35-year-old construction labourer brought to a Karnataka police station over a domestic dispute is dead, allegedly beaten with lathis and rods — and two constables are now under arrest. With blood-stained evidence, a protesting public, and a CID probe imminent, this case lays bare the dangers of unchecked police custody.
Key Takeaways
Head Constable Ittagi Raghavendra and Police Constable Venkatesh of Hagaribommanahalli Police Station were arrested on 3 August over the alleged custodial death of Khaleel , 35.
Khaleel, a construction labourer, was taken into custody late Sunday night following a domestic dispute and allegedly died after being assaulted inside the station.
His wife, Shainaz , filed a formal complaint; Vijayanagara SP S.
Jahnavi registered an FIR on the spot and ordered both officers' arrest.
Family members allege police initially tried to attribute the death to an epileptic seizure; relatives reported visible injury marks and bleeding from the head, nose, and ears.
A CID probe is likely; the post-mortem has been completed and an inquest was conducted in the presence of a magistrate.
JD(S) MLA Nemiraj Naik visited the family and demanded justice; hundreds protested outside the police station and at the hospital.
Two police personnel from the Hagaribommanahalli Police Station in Karnataka's Vijayanagara district were arrested on Monday, 3 August in connection with the alleged custodial death of Khaleel, a 35-year-old construction labourer, who reportedly died after being assaulted inside the station. An FIR has been registered against the accused officers, and a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is likely to be ordered, according to the district police.
Who Was Arrested and Why
The two arrested personnel have been identified as Head Constable Ittagi Raghavendra and Police Constable Venkatesh. They were taken into custody after Khaleel's wife, Shainaz, lodged a formal complaint alleging that her husband was assaulted by policemen, leading to his death.
According to police, Khaleel — a native of Harapanahalli working as a construction labourer in Hagaribommanahalli — was brought to the police station late on Sunday night following a domestic dispute with Shainaz, who had approached the police after the couple reportedly quarrelled on a public road.
What the Family Alleges
Family members have alleged that after Khaleel was taken into custody, he was brutally beaten by the policemen using lathis and rods inside the station. They claim he died as a direct result of the assault and further alleged that the police initially attempted to attribute the death to an epileptic seizure.
Relatives said blood was seen oozing from Khaleel's head, nose, and ears, and that multiple injury marks were visible on his body — details that, they argue, point to custodial torture. A relative, Noushad Ali, said: There was only a quarrel between husband and wife. The police took him to the station and beat him to death. Who will bring back his life? Is it the duty of the police to assault a person so brutally?
What the Police Said
Vijayanagara Superintendent of Police S. Jahnavi confirmed that an inquest was conducted in the presence of a magistrate and that the post-mortem examination had been completed. She told reporters that the investigation is expected to be handed over to the CID, with the district police awaiting orders from senior authorities.
Senior officials, including Ballari Range Inspector General of Police Dr Harsha, visited the Hagaribommanahalli Police Station and inspected the scene. SP Jahnavi and DySP Mallesh Dodmani remained on the ground to supervise the investigation and monitor the law and order situation.
Protests and Political Response
The incident triggered widespread protests, with hundreds gathering outside the Hagaribommanahalli Police Station and later at the hospital where Khaleel's body was shifted. Demonstrators demanded strict action against the officers responsible for the alleged custodial killing.
Local Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) MLA Nemiraj Naik, representing the Hagaribommanahalli constituency, visited the grieving family and demanded justice for the deceased, calling for stringent punishment for the accused policemen.
Broader Concern Over Custodial Deaths
The case has reignited concerns over alleged police excesses and the treatment of individuals held in custody — a recurring issue in Indian policing. This incident adds to a pattern of custodial death allegations that have periodically drawn public and judicial scrutiny across the country. The investigation is expected to gather pace once the case is formally transferred to the CID.
Point of View
And suggests institutional pressure to act visibly in the face of public outrage. But speed of arrest is not the same as accountability: the critical test will be whether the CID probe proceeds without interference and whether the post-mortem findings are made public. Custodial deaths in India are persistently underreported, and the police's alleged initial attempt to attribute Khaleel's death to an epileptic seizure — if proven — points to a cover-up instinct that a CID inquiry must confront directly. The MLA's visit and the street protests have created political heat, but sustained pressure through the judicial process is what will determine whether this case ends in conviction or quiet closure.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Vijayanagara custodial death case?
A 35-year-old construction labourer named Khaleel died on 3 August after allegedly being assaulted by police personnel inside the Hagaribommanahalli Police Station in Karnataka's Vijayanagara district. He had been brought to the station late Sunday night following a domestic dispute with his wife, Shainaz, who had approached the police after the couple quarrelled on a public road.
Who were the police personnel arrested in the Khaleel custodial death case?
The two arrested officers are Head Constable Ittagi Raghavendra and Police Constable Venkatesh, both attached to the Hagaribommanahalli Police Station. They were taken into custody after an FIR was registered on the complaint of the deceased's wife, Shainaz.
Will the CID investigate the Karnataka custodial death?
A CID probe is likely, according to Vijayanagara SP S. Jahnavi, who said the district police are awaiting orders from senior authorities to formally transfer the case. The post-mortem has been completed and an inquest was conducted in the presence of a magistrate.
What did Khaleel's family allege about the incident?
Family members alleged that Khaleel was brutally beaten with lathis and rods inside the police station and died from the assault. They also alleged that the police initially tried to portray his death as resulting from an epileptic seizure, and pointed to visible injury marks and blood oozing from his head, nose, and ears as evidence of custodial torture.
What was the public and political reaction to the Hagaribommanahalli custodial death?
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Hagaribommanahalli Police Station and at the hospital where Khaleel's body was shifted, demanding strict action against the accused officers. Local JD(S) MLA Nemiraj Naik visited the family and called for stringent punishment for those responsible.
