New Delhi/Bilaspur: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the probe into the custodial death of a Chhattisgarh resident and directed the state government to pay ₹25 lakh as interim compensation to his widow and two minor daughters.
Top court transfers probe, seeks expeditious investigation
A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta transferred the investigation into the death of Shravan Suryavanshi, also known as Sarvan Tamre, and ordered the CBI to register a regular criminal case and entrust the inquiry to a senior officer. The court asked the federal agency to complete the probe expeditiously and place a report before it at the next hearing on October 13.
"In the facts and circumstances of the case, we are of the firm opinion that the ends of justice require that investigation into the circumstances leading to the custodial death of Shravan be entrusted to the Central Bureau of Investigation..."
The court further directed that officials found responsible for custodial violence be proceeded against and prosecuted in accordance with law. It also instructed the CBI to examine the conduct of Chhattisgarh officials who, the court noted, failed to take appropriate steps despite the findings contained in an earlier judicial inquiry report.
Background: petition, earlier High Court order and arrest
The matter arose from a petition filed by Lahra Bai Tamre, wife of the deceased, along with their daughters Sandhya and Sakshi, challenging a judgment of the Chhattisgarh High Court dated October 3, 2024. The High Court had awarded ₹1 lakh as compensation but had not directed registration of an FIR or an independent criminal probe into the circumstances of the death.
Suryavanshi was arrested by the Seepat police in Bilaspur district on January 18, 2024 in connection with a case under Section 34(2) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act, according to court records submitted before the apex court.
What the Supreme Court directed the CBI to examine
- Register a regular criminal case into events leading to the custodial death of Shravan Suryavanshi.
- Entrust the investigation to a senior officer within the CBI and probe all persons who may be responsible for custodial violence.
- Examine whether state officials failed to act on the judicial inquiry report and include such conduct in the scope of the investigation.
- Submit an expeditious report to the Supreme Court by the next hearing date, October 13.
Interim compensation and legal remedy
The apex court ordered the Chhattisgarh government to pay ₹25 lakh as interim compensation to the widow and two minor daughters. The sum is substantially higher than the ₹1 lakh that the High Court had earlier awarded in October 2024, a point that formed part of the petitioners' challenge before the Supreme Court.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Arrest of Shravan Suryavanshi | 18 January 2024 |
| Chhattisgarh High Court judgment awarding ₹1 lakh | 3 October 2024 |
| Supreme Court reserved order | 4 August 2026 |
| Supreme Court order transferring probe to CBI | 12 August 2026 |
| Next Supreme Court hearing | 13 October 2026 |
Legal and administrative ramifications
By directing a CBI probe, the Supreme Court has signalled judicial concern over alleged custodial violence and possible administrative lapses by state authorities in responding to the judicial inquiry report. The order makes it clear that the CBI must not only reconstruct events surrounding the death but also scrutinise whether state officials complied with the inquiry's recommendations.
The bench emphasised that, if the investigation finds evidence of custodial violence or other offences, those responsible should be prosecuted "in accordance with law." The court's instruction to place an interim compensation on record reflects its approach to providing immediate relief while a forensic criminal inquiry proceeds.
What happens next
The CBI will register a regular FIR and commence its probe under the directions of the Supreme Court. The agency is required to submit a status report by the scheduled hearing on 13 October, when the court will review progress and consider further orders in the matter.
The family petitioners had sought stronger relief than the High Court award. With the transfer to the CBI and the interim compensation ordered by the Supreme Court, the case now moves into a central investigative process that may result in criminal charges depending on the findings.
