Rajasthan recorded 20 custodial deaths in police lock-ups between August 2023 and August 2025, according to a government report submitted to the state assembly in response to a query by Congress MLA Rafeek Khan. This aligns with broader national concerns, as India's National Human Rights Commission reports thousands of such incidents annually, often attributed to negligence or abuse, prompting calls for stricter oversight.

The report attributes six deaths to suicides, 12 to health issues like heart attacks, chest pain, heatstroke, and abdominal pain, and one to a fall during an escape attempt. The cause of one death remains disputed. A notable case in Beawar's Jaitaran involved a detainee allegedly hanging himself with a blanket in May, despite protocols prohibiting items that could enable self-harm.

Inquiries into 13 cases are pending, while seven completed probes found no police fault, classifying deaths as natural or suicides. Where negligence was identified, actions included transferring officers to lines, denying increments, suspending a sub-inspector in Baran, and issuing notices to constables in Beawar and Dausa. For instance, a Jaipur SHO and three constables were reassigned after a suicide.

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The revelations come amid Supreme Court suo motu cognizance of custodial deaths, focusing on compliance with directives for CCTV installation in police stations. The court aims to address systemic lapses, emphasizing accountability to prevent such tragedies.

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