‘Killed because he was Dalit’: Rahul Gandhi meets Parbhani victim kin

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that 35-year-old Somnath Suryavanshi, who died in judicial custody in Maharashtra’s Parbhani, was "killed because he was a Dalit" and for "protecting the Constitution".

His remarks came after meeting the deceased’s family, who claim he was a victim of custodial brutality. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gandhi said, “This was a 100 per cent custodial death. The police killed Somnath because he was Dalit and stood up for the Constitution.”

He accused the Maharashtra government, led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, of protecting the perpetrators. Gandhi also accused CM Fadnavis of lying. “The chief minister lied in the assembly to send a clear message to the police. This is part of the RSS ideology, which seeks to dismantle the Constitution,” Gandhi charged.

The incident took place on 10 December, when violence erupted in Parbhani after a replica of the Constitution, placed near Dr Bhimrao 'Babasaheb' Ambedkar’s statue outside the city’s railway station, was vandalised. The desecration triggered widespread anger and protests in the city, located in the Marathwada region.

Suryavanshi, a resident of Shankar Nagar, was among more than 50 individuals arrested following the unrest. On 15 December, while in judicial custody at Parbhani district central prison, Suryavanshi complained of chest pain and uneasiness. He was rushed to a state-run hospital, where he later passed away.

The police maintain that Suryavanshi’s death was due to natural causes and point to a magistrate’s record of his statement denying torture. CCTV footage, they claim, also shows no evidence of custodial brutality. However, Gandhi and Suryavanshi’s family challenge these assertions, citing the post mortem report and other evidence, including photographs and videos.

Chief minister Fadnavis has ordered a judicial probe into the incident. Speaking in the Maharashtra Assembly, he denied allegations of custodial torture and stated that Suryavanshi had told the magistrate he was not mistreated.

Asked about responsibility for the events in Parbhani, Gandhi pointed to the BJP government’s ideology. “Ideology is responsible for this, and since the chief minister has defended the police, he too is accountable,” he asserted.

During his visit, Gandhi also met the family of Vijay Wakode, another Dalit man who died during protests in Parbhani following the Constitution desecration incident.