Court orders brain mapping test on army officer

A court in Nashik has ordered scientific tests on a serving army officer, who was arrested in connection with Malegaon blasts, after Maharashtra police charged him with transferring huge amount of money through illegal channel to one of the accused in the case. Chief Judicial Magistrate K D Boche allowed the Anti-Terrorist Squad to conduct polygraph, brain mapping and narco analysis of Lt Col P S Purohit and remanded him to police custody till 15th November. Purohit has been accused of transferring of huge amounts through 'hawala' to Ajay Rahirkar who is already in ATS custody. He also sent SMS to ex-army officer Ramesh Shivji Upadhyay, also in ATS custody, after the 29th September Malegaon blast case was cracked by ATS saying "that we are in ATS radar," Public Prosecutor Ajay Misar told the court. Misar said the Malegaon blast is a sensitive case in which six persons died and many were injured. Even the forensic report revealed that explosives, including RDX, were found and it was necessary to get 14-days police custody of Purohit for interrogation. He said Purohit conducted several meetings of 'Abhinav Bharat', a saffron group, in Madhya Pradesh, New Delhi, Gujarat. Purohit had also attended meetings in Pune, Kashmir, Mirzapur and Bhonsala Military School at Nashik where some of the accused were also present, Misar said. In a 'panchanama' (statement) of Rakesh Dhawade, who is among the eight persons arrested by ATS, it was noted that four arms and live cartridges of Lt Col. Purohit were kept with Dhawade, the public prosecutor told the court. Purohit's lawyer Avinash Bhide told the court that his arrest was illegal as Purohit had been detained since October 29 but his arrest was shown early today. Bhide also argued that the charges of supplying money, sending SMSes and meetings are available in documentary evidences and there is no need to take the army officer in police custody. The court was told that Purohit had sent SMS to Major (Retd) Ramesh Shivji Upadhyay and others by using the secret Army codes asking them to delete the call details and also cell numbers as they are under ATS observation. The court took strong objection to electronic mediapersons' presence in the court room and asked them to clear out. With the arrest of P S Purohit, the ATS so far arrested nine persons in connection with Malegaon blasts.

"Loved reading this piece by Prakash Yedhula?
Join LAWyersClubIndia's network for daily News Updates, Judgment Summaries, Articles, Forum Threads, Online Law Courses, and MUCH MORE!!"

Join our Telegram group

Join our Whatsapp group