Patna, Feb. 13: A local court today rejected the anticipatory bail petition of three policemen, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), in connection with a custody death a decade ago.

The three police officers — DSP Vishwayjeet Dayal and sub-inspectors Sidheshwar Kumar Dubey and Arjun Prasad — are facing charges of killing a youth in custody in 2003 when they were posted in Patna.

District and sessions judge Arun Kumar rejected their anticipatory bail petitions. While DSP Dayal is posted with the economic offences unit at present, Dubey is attached to the Phulwarisharif police station in Patna and Prasad in Gaya.

Sources said the CID has launched an probe into the death of Amit Kumar, the son of police officer Yogendra Prasad Singh.

Amit was allegedly picked up by special task force (STF) personnel in Patna on November 8, 2003, for interrogation in connection with a missing girl case. Amit’s father had alleged that he was brutally assaulted in the police custody, leading to his death at Patna Medical College and Hospital.

Yogendra, then posted as sub-inspector in Bhojpur district, had accused two DSPs, six sub-inspectors and two constables of inflicting third degree torture on Amit at Ekta Bhavan, the STF office.