Two policemen in Kanpur Dehat were suspended on Tuesday after being accused of causing a man’s death by suicide. Officials said the policemen tortured the man and asked him to pay ₹50,000 to avoid police action.
The man, Jeet Kumar (also known as Jeetu), was 40 years old and lived in Kotra village in the Sajeti area. He worked at a private company in Surat, Gujarat. On Monday, Jeet went to his wife’s parents’ house in Akbarpur to bring her back after a family fight. But his father-in-law, who is the village head, filed a complaint against him at the local police post in Kotra.

Jeetu was called to the police post to settle the matter, where Sub-Inspector Gaurav Shalya and Head Constable Ravi allegedly beat him and asked for ₹50,000 in front of his in-laws, said Deputy Commissioner of Police Deependra Nath Chaudhary.

Jeetu managed to collect ₹20,000 by selling grain but couldn’t arrange the rest of the money. Later, he died by suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his home, the DCP said. After a quick investigation, the police found the complaint to be true. The two policemen were suspended and an FIR was registered against them.

Jeetu’s father, Ramesh, said his son was badly tortured and insulted. He also blamed Jeetu’s wife and her family for working with the police to harass him. The case got attention after BJP MLA Saroj Kuril visited Jeetu’s home and the police post. She also spoke to DCP Chaudhary. After that, the FIR was filed and action was taken against those involved.

The FIR was filed against the sub-inspector, the head constable, Jeetu’s wife Suman, and her father Ramkishor under different sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for abetment of suicide, causing hurt, wrongful confinement, and extortion.