Just over a year after the body of a young graphics designer was found on the rail tracks, the court of the 14th metropolitan magistrate Madhimita Ray sent an IPS officer and two senior police officers to jail on charges of abetting the suicide of Rizwanur Rahman.
All three cops — former deputy commissioner (Detective Department) Ajoy Kumar, then assistant commissioner Sukanti Chakraborty and sub-inspector Krishnendu Das — have been chargesheeted by the CBI for abetting Rahman’s suicide. They were later taken to Presidency Jail under tight security.
The three police officials could be suspended from service if they fail to obtain bail from either the sessions court or the high court within 48 hours.
The day began amidst high drama at Bankshall court when the three cops arrived to surrender before the 14th metropolitan magistrate even though they were granted time till October 27 to appear before the judge.
Simultaneously, they applied for bail which was forthwith rejected. The magistrate sent them to 14 days jail custody.
The lawyers of the three policemen immediately filed a petition before the chief metropolitan magistrate for stay on the order of the 14th magistrate. Hundreds of lawyers staged a noisy demonstration within the court of the CMM, arguing he had no jurisdiction to examine the validity of an order passed by a magistrate.
{{/usCountry}}The lawyers of the three policemen immediately filed a petition before the chief metropolitan magistrate for stay on the order of the 14th magistrate. Hundreds of lawyers staged a noisy demonstration within the court of the CMM, arguing he had no jurisdiction to examine the validity of an order passed by a magistrate.
{{/usCountry}}At this point, the CBI’s advocate Partha Tapaswi argued that only a sessions court or the high court could hear a petion against a magistrate’s order. “Why are the accused still detained in the court lock-up even after their remand order? They should have been sent to jail immediately.”
Senior lawyers were taken aback by the decision of the three cops to surrender much before they were asked to appear in court. Some feel they may have been able to obtain bail on October 27 easily after transferring the case to the sessions court.
The focus now shifts to the others who have been chargesheeted by the CBI — Rehman’s father-in-law Ashok Todi and some of his relatives. Todi has already moved the Supreme Court which will hear his petition on October 13.