Accused may be tried under stringent act

The Crime Branch is preparing to invoke the stringent Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous (Activities) Act (MPDA) against some of the accused in the film piracy syndicate busted last week, reports Debasish Panigrahi.

The Crime Branch is preparing to invoke the stringent Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous (Activities) Act (MPDA) against some of the accused in the film piracy syndicate busted last week.

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A senior officer from the Social Service Branch (SSB), which is spearheading the investigation of the case, told Hindustan Times on Friday that the record of each of the 16 people arrested so far was being scrutinised before invoking the stringent act against him.

“We have called for the records of every accused from police stations across the country. These charges, if any, would be clubbed with the present offence. At the time of, or before, filing the chargesheet we will club the MPDA against the particular individual if it deemed fit,” the officer added.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria, the chief supervising officer of the case, said the main culprits in the syndicate were being fanned out before invoking MPDA against them.

“We are examining that possibility (of applying MPDA). We are consulting with our legal experts in that direction,” Maria added.