Jamshedpur: Amid strong political allegations surrounding the death of Jeet Mahato in MGM police custody, the official statement of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Piyush Pandey has given a new direction to the case. The SSP has categorically stated that Jeet Mahato’s death was not caused by any form of police torture, but due to complicated cerebral malaria.
The death of Jeet Mahato, a resident of Gokul Nagar under the MGM police station area, had triggered intense political and administrative unrest in the district over the past few days. Opposition parties and public representatives termed the incident a custodial death and raised serious questions over law and order and police functioning. The issue escalated further after MP Vidyut Varan Mahato, former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, and विधायक Saryu Rai directly held the police responsible.
However, SSP Piyush Pandey’s statement has altered the course of the developments. According to him, Jeet Mahato was already suffering from a serious illness. When his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to MGM Hospital on December 29, 2025, where he passed away on December 31, 2025, despite continuous medical treatment.
The SSP stated that maintaining full transparency, the post-mortem examination was conducted in the presence of a magistrate and was also videographed. The medical report and the inquest prepared by the magistrate clearly mention that no external injuries, assault marks, or signs of custodial torture were found on the body. Based on clinical findings during treatment and the post-mortem report, doctors concluded that the cause of death was complicated cerebral malaria.
Clarifying reports circulating on social media regarding compensation, the SSP said that the financial assistance given to the family was not provided by the police department. Instead, it was extended on humanitarian grounds by a local social worker, which was wrongly projected as official compensation.
To eliminate any remaining doubts, the administration has taken an additional step. An application has been submitted before the Principal District and Sessions Judge seeking a judicial inquiry into the matter. Once approved, a judicial investigation will be conducted to ensure complete transparency and remove all suspicions.
Following SSP Piyush Pandey’s statement, the key question now is how sustainable the political allegations against the police will remain. At present, based on medical evidence and administrative proceedings, Jeet Mahato’s death is being linked to natural causes, giving the case an unexpected new turn.
