Ask Onix
Updated 27 April 2026 - Tamil Nadu authorities continue investigating the death of a 26-year-old man in police custody, as his family demands justice before performing last rites.
Family demands arrests before final rites
The body of Akash Delison, a 26-year-old Dalit man, remains unclaimed in a Tamil Nadu hospital morgue nearly two months after his death. His parents refuse to collect it until officers allegedly responsible for his fatal injuries are arrested.
Delison died on 8 March, two days after being taken into custody alongside his friend Gopi, who remains in judicial detention. The family alleges he was subjected to brutal torture by police, a claim authorities deny, stating he sustained injuries after jumping from a bridge while attempting to flee.
Protests and suspensions follow death
Public outrage over Delison's death led to the suspension of six police officers and prompted an investigation by Tamil Nadu's top anti-crime agency. The case marks the third reported custodial death in the state this year, drawing renewed attention to patterns of police violence.
In February, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) concluded that the death of 27-year-old Ajith Kumar, a temple security guard detained in a robbery case later deemed false, resulted from police excesses. Earlier this month, a Madurai special court sentenced nine officers to death for the 2020 custodial killings of a father and son, a case that sparked nationwide protests.
National and international concerns
India recorded 170 custodial deaths between 2025 and March 2026, according to federal home ministry data. Bihar reported the highest number (19), followed by Rajasthan (18) and Uttar Pradesh (15).
The Global Torture Index 2026, published by the World Organisation Against Torture, classified India as a "high risk" country for torture and ill-treatment by security forces, alongside Pakistan, Nigeria, Colombia, and Mexico. The report highlighted systemic violence targeting marginalized groups, including Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and migrant workers.
"Incidents involving severe beatings, forced confessions, and custodial deaths frequently occur, particularly against marginalized communities."
Global Torture Index 2026
In February, UN experts urged India to launch independent investigations into "alarming allegations of hundreds of extrajudicial killings and torture-related deaths." The letter also criticized the practice of "encounters"-police shootings framed as confrontations with criminals-calling them a normalization of unlawful violence. The UN's 60-day deadline for a government response has passed without acknowledgment.
Autopsy reveals extensive injuries
Delison's autopsy documented over two dozen injuries, including a fractured right leg, brain hemorrhages, and swelling in his heart and lungs. His mother, Anandhi, told the BBC she visited him hours before his death and saw signs of blindfolding and assault.
"When my wife came home after visiting Akash, she was crying uncontrollably and said she feared for his life."
Rajesh, Akash's father
Rajesh described his son as a young man with ambitions to become a lawyer to support his Dalit community. "They [the police] have snuffed out the life of an active young man who had big dreams," he said. The family's decision to delay last rites has drawn support from Dalit organizations across Tamil Nadu.
Calls for systemic reform
Legal experts and activists argue that individual accountability, while critical, is insufficient to address custodial violence. They point to weak enforcement of constitutional safeguards and systemic issues like heavy caseloads, understaffing, and inadequate legal aid.
"Police, magistrates, and prosecutors must prioritize constitutional principles over simply making arrests or securing convictions."
Anupama Arigala, legal consultant
Arigala emphasized the need for magistrates to scrutinize signs of torture during court appearances and for authorities to consider alternatives to custody, such as bail, when feasible. UN experts have also urged India to ratify the Convention Against Torture, which would require enacting a law explicitly criminalizing torture-a step activists say would signal official recognition of the problem and drive institutional change.
Government silence
The BBC has sought responses from Tamil Nadu's Home Secretary and Director General of Police regarding the family's allegations and demands for arrests. The federal home ministry has also not replied to requests for comment on the UN's letter or broader concerns about custodial deaths.
