On the directives of the Inspector General of Police (railways), Sudhakar Suradkar, Sub-inspector D L Somvanshi, Head Constable A R Dingole, constables S K Dighe, S S Lonkar and N G Kamble have been put under suspension from April 13. However, the post-mortem report has ruled out the connection between the assault and his death. The report notes renal and hepatic damage as the cause of death. A detailed histo-pathology report is awaited. A doctor requesting anonymity pointed out that renal failure could occur after heavy bleeding. But there was no evidence of that. Curiously, no major external injuries were found on Kadam's body except his buttocks.The deceased Suresh Kadam alias Sanjay Badgujar, a resident of Ahmednagar, was arrested onApril 6 by the CST police when he tried to snatch a briefcase from a passenger in the main concourse. He was produced in the court on April 7 and remanded to the custody until April 11. During his interrogation, Kadam was allegedly beaten up by the investigating team which led to some swelling around his ankles and injuries around his buttocks. After Kadam began vomiting and complained of giddiness he was admitted to the St George Hospital at the Nagar Chowk on April 8. In the evening, Kadam's condition deteriorated and he was transferred to the intensive care unit of the hospital and various tests including a CT scan were performed on him. However, he died on Sunday evening.

While Railway's sub-divisional police officer, S G Suryavanshi is making inquiries in the case, the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) would take over the case later. Meanwhile, Kadam's relatives and members of the Bharatiya Bhatke Vimukta Youth front, staged a demonstration near the St Georges hospital this morning. Kadambelonged to the Rajput Bhamta nomadic tribe. According to Dr Kailash Goud, the President of the front, Kadam's death was a direct result of police atrocities and the suspension of the five police officials only confirmed this. The front has also demanded immediate financial compensation and employment to Kadam's younger brother.

Dr Goud said Kadam could have been caught stealing and that he should have been arrested for his crime. ``He was poor and unemployed. He may have tried to steal out of desperation. But once he was caught red-handed, taken into police custody and the stolen goods recovered, what was the need to beat him mercilessly? There is absolutely no logic behind this torture" said Dr Goud.Official records at the CST railway police station state that Kadam was taken to St George's hospital when he collapsed after he had an epilepsy attack. Kadam's mother Kausalyabai Kisan Badgujar, however, maintained that her son had not suffered from any kind of fits in the past. When Kauslyabai met her sonafter his arrest, he was unconscious at the St Georges hospital.Kadam's family lives near Platform number 9 of Kurla railway station.Senior Inspector Pradeep Yadav claimed that the deceased, Kadam, was an alcoholic and a drug addict. According to Yadav, Kadam's `illness' was due to withdrawal symptoms as a result of being denied alcohol and drugs.