Karnataka High Court Orders Rigorous Probe Into Police Encounter Killing of Migrant Worker

The Court has mandated a detailed post-mortem and strict adherence to Supreme Court guidelines in the investigation of Ritesh Kumar's death.

Ritesh Kumar, a migrant worker accused of murdering a 5-year-old girl and facing allegations of sexual assault, was killed in a police encounter on April 13, 2025, in Hubballi.
The Karnataka High Court has directed the state to conduct a detailed post-mortem under videographic supervision and preserve forensic samples for further investigation.
The Court emphasized the necessity of adhering to the Supreme Court's 2014 guidelines on deaths during police encounters, following a petition by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).
State authorities clarified that Kumar's body will be buried, not cremated, to allow for potential exhumation if required during the investigation.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has taken over the case, with an FIR already registered, as judicial oversight continues to monitor procedural compliance.