HC rejects plea for police custody of Maoist

MADURAI: Madras High Court bench here has dismissed a petition by police seeking the custody of Maoist Ranjith alias Sekar for interrogating him in a 2007 case.

Justice V Periakaruppiah said Police custody could not be granted in this case as the first judicial remand period of 15 days had expired.

Ranjith, brought to Theni on Prisoner's Transfer warrant from Mysore jail, where he had been lodged in connection with another case, was remanded to judicial custody by a magistrate on January 3, he pointed out.

In the Criminal Original Petition, DSP of Q Branch, dealing with extremist elements, had sought seven days custody saying police had been on the look out for him from 2007.

Public Prosecutor P Kumaresan submitted custodial interrogation of Ranjith was absolutely necessary as the offfence committed by the accused and his accomplices were of serious nature affecting the society.

Various weapons, explosives and detonators were involved in the case registered against the Maoist in 2007. The police had even filed the final report in the case before the trial court.

But after tracing Ranjith, they approached the Principal sessions judge and obtained orders on January 12 for reopening the case and were conducting further investigation.

The petition claimed that the limitation of 15 days should be calculated from January 12. But the judge rejected the plea.