Susan Abraham, wife of alleged Maoist leader Vernon Gonsalves, complained of police harassment before the Bombay High Court on Wednesday.
The division bench, comprising Justice FI Rebello and Justice JH Bhatia, said: “Implication of a person in any offence does not authorise the police to interrogate his family.”
Abraham’s lawyer Anand Grover told the court that on Saturday two policemen came to her Bandra residence and interrogated her 14-year-old son for over two hours. “He was preparing for his exams when policemen in plainclothes questioned him about his father, in an abusive manner,” Grover said.
Public Prosecutor Aruna Kamat sought time to reply to the allegations saying she would need to find out if any policeman had gone to visit the house of the suspected Naxalite leader.
The court has kept the matter for Wednesday, when order on her plea is expected to be pronounced.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad had arrested Vernon and his associate Shridhar Srinivasan on August 20, 2007. The duo were later transferred to Anti-Naxal Operation sleuths and remanded to judicial custody.
They were later kept in police custody by obtaining transfer orders from magistrate courts. Abraham had moved the HC challenging their continuous detention. She cited certain provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, which prohibit magistrates from transferring custody of an accused unless cognisance of alleged offence against him is taken. In December 2007, the HC had restrained the police from taking fresh custody of the duo.
{{/usCountry}}They were later kept in police custody by obtaining transfer orders from magistrate courts. Abraham had moved the HC challenging their continuous detention. She cited certain provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, which prohibit magistrates from transferring custody of an accused unless cognisance of alleged offence against him is taken. In December 2007, the HC had restrained the police from taking fresh custody of the duo.
{{/usCountry}}Stay updated with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Mumbai. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top Cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and more across India along with Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.
Stay updated with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Mumbai. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top Cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and more across India along with Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.