The Supreme Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register a regular criminal case and investigate the custodial death of Shravan Suryavanshi in Chhattisgarh. The Court also ordered the State to pay ₹25 lakh as interim compensation to his legal heirs.
A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta passed the order on August 12, 2026, while hearing Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 728 of 2026.
Background of the Case
Shravan Suryavanshi was arrested on January 18, 2024, in connection with a case under Section 34(2) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act. He was taken into custody and subsequently lodged in Central Jail, Bilaspur. His health deteriorated and he was shifted to CIMS Hospital, where he died on January 22, 2024.
The post-mortem report recorded several external injuries, including a scalp laceration and contusions on different parts of the body. It stated that the cause of death was cardio-respiratory arrest arising from complications caused by a head injury from a hard and blunt object.
A judicial inquiry conducted under Section 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure also found that the death appeared to have resulted from complications arising from the head injury.
Supreme Court Questions State's Inaction
The High Court had awarded ₹1 lakh compensation but had not directed registration of an FIR or an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. The Supreme Court found the compensation inadequate and questioned why no criminal investigation had followed the judicial inquiry.
During the hearing, senior Chhattisgarh officials appeared virtually before the Court. The Director General of Police stated that no criminal case had been registered because the judicial inquiry report had allegedly not reached the police.
The Supreme Court strongly criticised this explanation. It observed that the report had already been submitted in July 2024 and was available on the record when the High Court considered the matter.
The Bench said the explanation offered by the State was “a cover-up story and an attempt to pull the wool over the Court’s eyes.”
Court Orders CBI Investigation
The Court also examined the medical records and noted differences between the initial jail medical report and the later post-mortem findings. It observed that the post-mortem report recorded multiple injuries and linked the death to a head injury.
Considering the circumstances, the Bench held that the matter required an immediate and thorough investigation. It directed the CBI Director to ensure registration of a regular criminal case and entrust the investigation to a senior officer.
₹25 Lakh Interim Compensation
The Supreme Court also noted that the High Court's finding that Shravan was the sole breadwinner and had died an unnatural death following violence during custody was not disputed by the State.
As an interim measure, the Court directed Chhattisgarh to pay ₹25 lakh to the petitioners within four weeks. It clarified that the final amount of compensation would be determined while deciding the petition.
The Court further directed the Chhattisgarh DGP to transmit the complete case records to the CBI within one week and ordered that the matter be listed again on October 13, 2026.
Case Details:
Case Title: Lahra Bai Tamre & Ors. v. State of Chhattisgarh & Ors.
Case Number: Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 728 of 2026
Judges: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
Decision Date: August 12, 2026
 chief. Eknath Shinde – Shiv Sena leader-300x169.webp)