Custodial Deaths: Bihar Leads, Followed by Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi: According to statistics, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh are the states with the highest number of custodial deaths in the country. The Ministry of Home Affairs released these figures in the Lok Sabha. As per the data for the first 74 days of this year, 170 custodial deaths have been reported. Bihar has the highest number of deaths at 19, followed by Rajasthan with 18 deaths and Uttar Pradesh with 15 deaths. Punjab, Gujarat, and Maharashtra have each reported 14 custodial deaths. Other states with a high number of custodial deaths include Odisha (9), West Bengal (7), Tamil Nadu (7), Assam (5), and Telangana (5). Delhi reported 4 custodial deaths. The Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Puducherry also reported one death each.

In 2025, 140 custodial deaths were reported during the same period. Deputy Home Minister Nityanand Rai stated that 176 custodial deaths were reported in 2021-22, 163 in 2022-23, and 157 in 2023-24. According to data provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Bihar reported 18 deaths in 2021-22, 16 deaths in 2022-23, 13 deaths in 2023-24, and 10 deaths in 2024-25. In Rajasthan, the death toll was 13 in 2021-22, 4 in 2022-23, 7 in 2023-24, 9 in 2024-25, and 18 till March 15 of this year. In Uttar Pradesh, 8 custodial deaths were reported in 2021-22, 10 in 2022-23, 12 in 2023-24, 11 in 2024-25, and 15 till March 15 of this year. In Gujarat, 24 deaths were reported in 2021-22, 15 in 2022-23, 18 in 2023-24, 14 in 2024-25, and 14 this year. In Maharashtra, 30 deaths were reported in 2021-22, 22 in 2022-23, 21 in 2023-24, 14 in 2024-25, and 14 deaths this year.

The figures show that custodial deaths are increasing compared to previous years. In past years, the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra have consistently topped the list in custodial death statistics.