From preliminary investigation, it emerged that the youth, Rajnikant Sharma, was murdered and then his body thrown in the drain. His friend alleged that he was taken into custody by some police officials the night before his body was found on May 20.
The allegation leveled by Sharma's friend were denied by senior police officials.
Three men, including Sharma, had consumed alcohol on the night of May 19 and taken an auto rickshaw from Kaushambi to Kondli.
Later, his friend alleged that he was taken to police station by the cops.
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"Sharma was never taken to the police station so his custody did not materialise and hence the allegation of custodial death is incorrect. Maybe Sharma met some policemen but their identity is unknown," a senior police officer said.
A case of murder was registered at Ghazipur police station on May 22, two days after Sharma's body was found in the drain, he said.
"The case was today transferred to Crime Branch for a thorough investigation," said the official.