New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS): A 38-year-old man held in a POCSO case was found hanging in the lock-up of the Samaypur Badli police station in Delhi's Outer North District on Sunday morning, following which his kin accused police of torturing him to death.

Police, however, claimed that the man hanged himself with a bdesheet in the lock-up.

Accused Dharmendra was detained in a sexual assault case by the Swaroop Nagar police station on Saturday. Later, he was arrested and shifted to the Samaypur Badli police station where he was found hanging, police said on Sunday.

According to police, the man was in jailed on murder charge but was out on parole since March. His parole was extended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The police said that a case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered at the Swaroop Nagar police station after Dharmendra allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in Swaroop Nagar while her parents were away on Saturday.

Police claimed that he fled the crime spot and hid at a relative's house. Later, he was apprehended and brought to the police station.

Sources said that Dharmendra had requested a policeman posted in the lock-up for food and as the latter moved out to look for his relatives, the man allegedly hanged himself with a bedsheet tied to an iron grill.

"The police tortured him so much that he died; now, they are trying to cook up stories about his hanging. He could not commit suicide. He was tortured to death by police," said Dharmendra's nephew Neeraj.

"One of the policemen posted outside the lock-up has been suspended for negligence and the area Magistrate informed by police about the incident. Investigation in the case is in progress," said Outer North DCP Gaurav Sharma.