Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Jhansi priest dies in police custody; family disputes suicide claim
A 62-year-old priest named Rajendra Prasad Dubey was taken by police in a village in India.
Police said some parents complained that he had behaved badly toward their eight-year-old daughter.
The priest was kept at a police station, and his son visited him in the evening and said he was fine.
The next morning, police told the son that his father had breathing problems and was taken to hospital.
Later, they said the priest had hanged himself in the bathroom using a piece of cloth.
The son does not believe this, because he says there is nothing in the bathroom to hang from.
The family thinks people in the village who disliked the priest are behind the trouble.
They have asked police to investigate what really happened and to check the police's own actions.
Rajendra Prasad Dubey, 62, priest of Radha Krishna temple in Singar village, died in police custody on Tuesday in Jhansi district.
He was arrested Monday after the parents of an eight-year-old girl complained that he made sexual advances toward her.
Police first told the family Dubey was hospitalized with breathing problems; a constable later claimed he hanged himself in the police station bathroom with a dhoti.
The priest's son Vinay Kumar Dubey says his father appeared fine when he brought him food at 7pm Monday and that there is nothing in the bathroom to hang from.
The family alleges village politics and years of harassment, and has demanded that the complainants be booked for abetment of suicide and the police's own role be probed.
- Who
- Rajendra Prasad Dubey, a 62-year-old priest of Radha Krishna temple in Singar village, his son Vinay Kumar Dubey, and Gursarai police in Jhansi district.
- What
- Dubey died in police custody after being arrested over allegations of making sexual advances toward an eight-year-old girl; his family disputes the police account of suicide.
- When
- He was arrested on Monday afternoon and died on Tuesday.
- Where
- Gursarai police station in Jhansi district; the family spoke to reporters at Jhansi Medical College.
- Why
- Police suggest Dubey died by hanging, while the family claims village politics and harassment led to a false case and questionable death.
Priest's family
Police and complainants
Cause of death
Priest's family
The family rejects the suicide theory, saying the bathroom has nothing to hang from and questioning why police first reported breathing problems.
Police and complainants
Police said Dubey was admitted to hospital with breathing problems and a constable claimed he later hanged himself in the station bathroom using a dhoti.
The allegation against the priest
Priest's family
The family says the girl was merely plucking oleander flowers near their barn and that the case stems from harassment and village politics, including efforts to remove Dubey as temple priest.
Police and complainants
The girl's parents filed a complaint accusing Dubey of making sexual advances toward the eight-year-old.
Police conduct
Priest's family
The family alleges police have 'joined our enemies' and wants an investigation into the police's own role and an abetment-of-suicide case against the complainants.
Police and complainants
Police have not publicly replied to the family's allegations; their stated version is that Dubey died after being taken to hospital with breathing problems and then reportedly dying by suicide.
- Deceased
- Rajendra Prasad Dubey, 62, priest of Radha Krishna temple
- Allegation
- Making sexual advances toward an eight-year-old girl
- Complainants
- Parents of the eight-year-old girl
- Arrest
- Monday afternoon; taken to Gursarai police station
- Death
- Tuesday in police custody
- Police account
- Breathing problems, then claimed suicide by hanging with a dhoti
- Family's demand
- Book complainants for abetment of suicide and probe police role