By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: A day after GNLA chairman Champion Sangma sought the presence of his lawyer during interrogation, the State police have refused to comment on the petition.
Champion’s lawyer Sujit Dey submitted the petition to Additional Director General of Police (Special Branch) Tennyson Dkhar on Tuesday.
“I have submitted the letter on behalf of my client and he told me that he would forward the same to the Director General of Police (DGP) for clearance,” Dey told reporters.
When asked about the reason which led Champion to seek his presence during interrogation, Dey said, “He (Champion) did not cite any reason in this regard.”
It may be mentioned that the Supreme Court of India in the case titled DK Basu vs. the State of West Bengal case (AIR 1997, S.C. 610) in 1996 had laid down certain guidelines to be followed after the arrest of an accused.
One of it says that the arrestee may be permitted to meet his lawyer during interrogation, but not throughout the interrogation.
Champion was arrested from Umkrem-Pyrdiwah area on the Indo-Bangla border on July 30 after he was pushed back to India by Bangladesh authorities.
