New Delhi: A court here on Wednesday directed
Tihar Jail authorities to hand over to Andhra Pradesh Police
custody of top Maoist leader Kobad Ghandy in connection with a
case registered against him in Karimnagar district in 2008,
rejecting his plea that he could not be forced to join probe.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja granted
the plea of Andhra Pradesh Police and directed them to produce
Ghandy, a central committee member of the banned CPI Maoist,
in a court in Karimnagar on or before November 20.
Ghandy's counsel Mayur Parikh opposed the contention
of the police arguing that the accused could only be called as
a witness or to answer a charge in a case and not to join
investigation as claimed by the police.
Public Prosecutor Naveen Kumar, however, argued that
this court did not have the authority to sit in appeal on a
production warrant issued by the Additional Judicial
Magistrate in Karimnagar on November 11.
"Having regards to the facts and circumstances,
accused is given on transit remand in the custody of Andhra
Pradesh Police with direction to produce him in the court in
Karimnagar on or before November 20," Baweja said.
Ghandy, 63, is wanted to face various charges under
the IPC, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act in the case registered with
Karimnagar (Rural) police station in 2008.
Ghandy, arrested here on September 20, is in judicial
custody till November 27.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 21:33