Nagpur: Man held for alleged robbery bid posing as delivery worker dies after police custody

A 28-year-old man died in unclear circumstances after being taken into police custody in Nagpur's Beltarodi area. He is accused of entering an elderly woman's home posing as a delivery worker and attempting a robbery.

The deceased has been identified as Sumedh Rajendra Gajbhiye, a resident of Narsala. He is alleged to have tried to snatch the chain of a 61-year-old woman at Prithviraj Society, after which the woman's son and neighbours caught him.

The incident took place at around 2.30 pm on Tuesday. According to the police, Sumedh arrived at the society on a motorcycle with his alleged accomplice, Deepak Patil. Both are said to have been wearing T-shirts similar to those worn by food delivery workers.

The police said the two allegedly went to the home of 61-year-old Usha Devidas Dharmik and got her to open the door on the pretext of delivering a parcel.

As per the allegation, Sumedh entered as soon as the door opened and, while trying to snatch the chain, allegedly threatened the woman with a knife.

When the woman raised an alarm, her son reached the spot and allegedly caught Sumedh. Neighbours who heard the noise also gathered and surrounded the two men.

Beltarodi police then arrived and took Sumedh into custody. According to the police, during initial questioning he allegedly admitted to being involved in the robbery attempt and said the stolen goods were to be handed to his accomplice.

The police later took Sumedh for a medical examination. He is said to have taken ill and lost consciousness during this. He was taken to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

After the death, allegations and talk emerged that Sumedh may have been beaten after being caught. The police have denied that he was assaulted in custody.

The actual cause of death is not yet clear. The police are awaiting the post-mortem report, which is expected to make the position clearer. Investigations are continuing into both the robbery attempt and the circumstances of Sumedh's death.