Kupwara custodial torture case: Eight, including six policemen, granted bail

A court in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday (December 30, 2025) granted bail to eight persons, including six policemen, in connection with the alleged custodial torture of a policeman in 2023.

Directing the accused to “remain present before the trial court on each and every date of hearing unless exempted”, the court said, “Any breach of the conditions shall be viewed seriously and shall warrant cancellation of bail.” It added that bail bonds of ₹1 lakh with one surety had been furnished and accepted.

The court also directed the accused to deposit their passports and barred them from leaving the territorial jurisdiction of the court “without prior permission”.

Further, the court warned the accused against “intimidation, hampering or tampering with the prosecution evidence”. “Nor shall they threaten any prosecution witness to hamper the trial,” it said.

The case pertains to the alleged custodial torture of a policeman in February 2023. Two civilians and six policemen, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Ajaz Ahmad Sheikh, were accused by policeman Khurshid Ahmad Chohan of subjecting him to custodial torture.

The Supreme Court in 2025 directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a status report in the case. According to the CBI chargesheet, the victim’s “genital organs and testicles were amputated” during interrogation at a centre in Kupwara.

The CBI has registered a case under Sections 120-B, 307, 323, 325, 326, and 343 of the Indian Penal Code, relating to criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt, voluntarily causing grievous hurt, voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means, and wrongful confinement for more than three days.