Court’s level, now

Ghandy managed to duck court on narco, but will have an extended interrogation of two months

Court's level, now

Ghandy managed to duck court on narco, but will have an extended interrogation of two monthsu00a0

Ghandy scored a big victory when he managed to evade a narco-analysis test by questioning the very validity of the scientific interrogation method.

The Maoist leader who is known for his ability to fool the security agencies was refused a statutory bail on Monday with the court providing two more months to Delhi Police for completing the investigations into the cases against him under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Under the law the period for filing a charge sheet can be extended up to 180 days.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Kaveri Baweja while listening to a Delhi police plea for additional time period to complete the investigation rejected the defence lawyer's application. Counsel for Ghandy argued that Kobad was entitled to bail as the police failed to file the chargesheet in the stipulated 90 days period. Public prosecutor Naveen Kumar opposed the application, saying that the investigation period can be extended up to 180 days with the due permission of the court.

CMM Kaveri baweja while delivering the order in favour of the investigating agency said, "I considered that the ground spelt out in the application, on which extension of period of the limitation has been sought, appears to be just and in view of the report of the prosecutor."

She further added that the court is satisfied with the argument that the investigation can not be completed within the prescribed period. The court had provided Delhi police a time till Monday to apply for extra time to complete the probe.

In normal circumstances an investigating agency is expected to file the chargesheet within 90 days of filing the formal complaint but the period can be extended in cases of serious and rare offences.

The order has come as a big relief for the Delhi police Special Cell which is investigating Kobad's role in spreading maoist insurgency in the urban areas and his overall role in the red wing extremism. Though officers wished not to be quoted they called the order just and appropriate considering that Kobad managed to evade arrest for a long time but kept frequenting Delhi from naxal affected areas in central and eastern India.

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