Dr Tadvi case: CB challenges custody denial

Mumbai: The Mumbai crime branch Tuesday approached the Bombay high court, challenging the order of the Sessions court denying it custody of the three doctors arrested in connection with Dr Payal Tadvi’s suicide.

The court posted this plea for hearing on June 6. Meanwhile, the Sessions court deferred hearing on the bail plea of these doctors after the prosecution sought time to file a reply.

Public prosecutor Deepak Thakare mentioned the petition before the single bench of Justice S.S. Shinde, which posted it for hearing on June 6.

The crime branch, in its petition in the high court, said that the case had been handed over to it on the day when the three accused – Hema Ahuja, Bhakti Mehare and Ankita Khandelwal – were remanded to judicial custody and hence, it did not get a chance to interrogate them.

The petition challenged the special court’s order sending the three accused to judicial remand, and pleaded with the HC that they be remanded to the crime branch’s custody.

According to crime branch officers, custodial interrogation was required to ascertain if the victim had left any suicide note and if the accused persons had destroyed it.