Police get 60 more days to file chargesheet against Ghandy

A Delhi court gave two months time to the police beyond the mandatory 90 days to complete their probe against top Maoist leader Kobad Ghandy and rejected his plea for "statutory" bail.

A Delhi court on Monday gave two months time to the police beyond the mandatory 90 days to complete their probe against top Maoist leader Kobad Ghandy and rejected his plea for "statutory" bail.

HT Image

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja allowed the plea of the Delhi police's Special Cell and dismissed an application of Ghandy seeking "statutory" bail following the failure of the police to file a chargesheet against him within the 90-day period.

Ghandy, 63, who has been booked under various provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after his arrest on September 20, said he was entitled to bail as the police failed to file the chargesheet against him within the prescribed period under the law.

Public Prosecutor Naveen Kumar opposed the plea of the accused contending the period of extension for filing the chargesheet can go up to 180 days in accordance with the provision of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act with the permission of the court.

"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. I am satisfied that it is not possible to complete the investigation within the prescribed period," the CMM said.

The police had earlier been given time till today by a Metropolitan Magistrate with a direction to put their application for seeking extra time to file chargesheet before the CMM.