The CBI requires more time from the High Court for investigating whether the police had used unnecessary force while taking Dr Sudhakar, the anaesthetist at the Narsipatnam government hospital, Visakhapatnam, in their custody.

The police had arrested the doctor as he had reportedly staged a protest on the road on 17th May after he was suspended for condemning the government for not providing N95 masks and PPEs to doctors who are treating COVID-19 patients.

The High Court, taking suomotu cognisance of the case based on a letter that was written by TDP Mahila Wing president V Anitha alleged that the police had used excessive force while taking Dr Sudhakar into custody. They directed the CBI to see into this matter if any ‘conspiracy’ was behind the arrest of the doctor. The court also directed the CBI to submit its investigation report within 8 weeks.

On Tuesday, CBI public prosecutor A Chenna Keshavulu informed the court that the examining agency had registered two FIRs in the following case and had already questioned more than 100 witnesses in this case. The public prosecutor informed the court that it has filed an interim report before the court in two sealed covers on 10th July. The bench of Justice Rakesh Kumar and Justice J Uma Devi had studied the report. Chenna Keshavulu said that the CBI is scrutinizing the conspiracy angle regarding the arrest of the doctor and has sought 2 months’ time to finish its investigation. The Bench has asked the CBI to complete the investigation by 11th November and post the matter for 16th November.

Source: The New Indian Express