22-year-old dies hours after arrest in liquor case

Surat: A 22-year-old man died just hours after being arrested in a prohibition case in the early hours of Wednesday.

Police claimed that he suffered an epileptic seizure while being taken for a medical examination.

An inquiry into the custodial death has been initiated by assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Z R Desai.

The deceased, identified as Ranjit Giri, was detained on Tuesday evening after police allegedly found him in an intoxicated state during routine patrolling in the Pandesara area.

Speaking to TOI, ACP Desai said, “After the panchnama and other legal formalities were completed, Giri was formally arrested at around 7 pm and lodged in the Pandesara police station lock-up. At approximately 12.30 am on Wednesday, while he was being taken to the civil hospital for a medical check-up, he suffered what appeared to be an epileptic seizure outside the lock-up and collapsed unconscious.”

Police personnel immediately administered CPR, but Giri did not regain consciousness. The 108 emergency service was called, and the medical team also attempted resuscitation. He was then shifted to Surat Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him dead at around 1.15 am.

Desai said the family informed investigators that Giri had a history of alcohol and substance abuse and had previously suffered epileptic episodes. “His relatives told us that he had collapsed due to an epileptic attack three days ago as well. At that time, his mother had advised him to seek treatment at the civil hospital, but he refused,” Desai said.

According to police, Giri had arrived in Surat from his native village in Uttar Pradesh about a week ago and had recently started working as a water-bottle deliveryman. His father lives in Chennai, while Giri was staying in Surat with his mother, sister, and uncle.