Photo Credits: High drama prevails at Vasco court as judge extends remand of suspect
----------------
FURTHER 4-DAY REMAND
* Assistant Public Prosecutor argued that Sardana should be remanded to further seven days police custody taking national security into consideration
* The judge declined to extend the remand by seven days but agreed to remand Sardana to an additional four days in police custody
-----------------
SARDANA'S LAWYER
'DOES NOT WISH
TO REPRESENT HIM'
>> See pg 6
-----------------
VASCO: High drama prevailed at the Vasco court on Monday as the judge extended remand of the suspect, Sameer Sardana, to four days in police custody citing national security, after the lawyer representing Sardana failed to turn up in the court.
As the seven-day police remand of Sardana ended on Monday, law enforcement agencies had sought to have his remand extended by the court, but brought him to the JMFC court in a dramatic manner.
A team of ATS sleuths rushed in one of their own members by concealing his face, in a bid to hoodwink the media into thinking that Sardana had been brought into court.
Suspecting something fishy, media persons at the site did not move out and instead, stayed in the court premises.
Moments later, a second ATS team rushed in Sardana by covering his face, but media persons captured the drama unfolding in the court.
Adding to the suspense, the lawyer representing Sardana failed to turn up in the court and JMFC B Court Judge Sabana Shaik then asked Sardana whether he was being represented by his lawyer.
Sardana told the judge that his lawyer was on his way and did not know the exact location of the court. Sardana then sought more time to hear the remand plea.
After seeking permission from the judge to hear his side, Sardana told the judge that the police had failed to find any incriminating evidence and that, he should be allowed to go free.
“I have been harassed in the office of the IPS officer by persons not from the police department and the police have prevented me from contacting my lawyer and my family,” Sardana told judge Shaik in the packed courtroom.
As Sardana's lawyer had failed to reach the court, Judge Shaik asked Sardana if he was ready to accept the service of another lawyer from the Mormugao Taluka Legal Aid Cell.
Left with no other option, Sardana agreed to seek the service of Remand Advocate Marcelino Fernandes from the Legal Aid Cell and sought to speak with him.
While granting Sardana time to brief Adv Fernandes, Judge Shaik directed Sardana to go out of the court room and interact with Adv Fernandes.
Before moving out of the court, Sardana requested the judge to clear the passage outside the courtroom, which was packed with media persons and police personnel, but Judge Shaik declined to do so.
Once outside the court room, Sardana informed Adv Fernandes that he was being harassed and that, he was not allowed to speak his 80-year-old father, who is suffering from cancer.
“I am being physically tortured by some persons, who are not from the Goa Police, in the office of the IPS officer,” Sardana told Adv Fernandes.
“I am not allowed to talk to my lawyer and my family. They didn't find any incriminating evidence against me and I should be allowed to go,” pleaded Sardana.
Adv Fernandes then used his mobile phone and got Sardana to disclose the phone number of Sardana’s lawyer. Advocate Fernandes then spoke to Sardana’s lawyer and also allowed Sardana to speak to his lawyer.
Once inside the courtroom, Saradna repeated to the judge that the police did not find any incriminating evidence against him to remand further police custody and insisted that he should be allowed to go free.
Assistant Public Prosecutor Devendra Korgaokar, while arguing the remand plea on behalf of the police, said Sardana should be remanded to further seven days police custody taking into the consideration the national security.
While accepting the plea, Judge Shaik declined to extend the remand by seven days, but agreed to remand Sardana to an additional four days in police custody on the basis of national security.
Sardana also requested Judge Shaik to direct the police to provide him with toothpaste, bath soap, a new bucket, a jug and clean water.
