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Gopal remanded to police custody

By Our Staff Reporter

KANCHEEPURAM APRIL 22. L. Rajendran, judge of the special court at Poonamalle near Chennai, today remanded the Nakkheeran editor, R.R. Gopal, arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, to CB-CID police custody for a week till April 29.

Passing orders on an application from the CB-CID police for taking Mr. Gopal under their custody, the judge said they should ensure his safety and security. He also granted Mr. Gopal's plea for allowing one of his counsel to visit the CB-CID police headquarters in Chennai daily to receive information on his whereabouts and welfare.

Mr. Gopal submitted before the judge yesterday that he should be kept under judicial custody, saying his life would be in danger if he was kept under police custody. The judge today authorised K. Nagarasan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch CID, Coimbatore, and investigation officer in the case, to take Mr. Gopal into custody. The judge also directed that Mr. Gopal shall not be ill-treated mentally and physically and should be fed well at Government cost.

The judge ordered that Mr. Gopal be produced at the court for judicial remand at or before 5.45 p.m., April 29.

``This court perused a series of judicial proceedings wherein the petitioner and his official reporter repeatedly claimed grave risk to person and security. A new environment emerged out since the petitioner is now arrested under Section 4 (a) of POTA apart from the other offences under the other penal acts,'' the judge said. ``As the Superintendent of Police is the statutory competent officer for investigation in the Special Act, in the interest of justice, it is directed that the Superintendent of Police CB-CID, Chennai-2, be associated in investigation and submit a consolidated information about the person and whereabouts of the petitioner accounting for everyday on April 25 and April 28 before this court.'' The Additional Director General of Police (Crime), CB-CID, Chennai, should ensure that nothing untoward occurred regarding the safety and security of the accused. He should also endorse the report to the Superintendent of Police, CB-CID, Headquarters, Chennai.

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