Sanitation worker accused of stealing Rs 25 lakh dies in Agra police custody

Lucknow police stop Priyanka Gandhi on her way to Agra to meet the family of Arun, on Wednesday. Pic/PTI

A sanitation worker accused of stealing Rs 25 lakh from the Jagdishpura police station here died in police custody after his health deteriorated during interrogation, officers said on Wednesday. Senior Superintendent of Police (Agra) Muniraj G said Arun Valmiki suddenly fell ill on Tuesday night. He was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him dead, he said.

People from the Valmiki community gathered at Arun's house and demanded a fair probe into his death. Arun's family has also fled complaint in connection with his death. Arun was accused of stealing the money on Saturday night from a storage house at police station, where confiscated items are kept. He worked as a cleaner there. Muniraj said police recovered Rs 15 lakh during the raid on his house.

An inspector, a sub-inspector and three constables, who were on duty at Jagdishpura police station when Arun died, were suspended after an uproar in the city, he said. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi left by road from Lucknow to Agra to meet the Arun's family. However, the Lucknow police detained her, citing the Agra DM's request to not allow any political person to reach there.

"The moment I try to visit any place other than the party office, they (Administration) try to stop me... They stop me wherever I go. Should I keep sitting in restaurants? Just because it is politically convenient for them? I want to meet them, what is the big deal?," she asked.

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