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Journalism of Courage
After the Gujarat High Court instructed the police inspector (PI) investigating the death of Dr Atul Chag, who allegedly died by suicide in Rajkot, to engage a private lawyer, the PI submitted that any interference while preliminary investigation is pending “would be hazardous to the entire process”.
Inspector Sunil Isharani said this in an affidavit filed before the Gujarat HC dated April 9, in a contempt petition moved by Dr Chag’s son Hitarth Chag. Hitarth filed the petition seeking initiation of civil contempt proceedings against police personnel for failing to register an FIR in the case, nearly two months after the incident.
Dr Chag, who was running a hospital in Veraval town in Gir Somnath, was found hanging at his residence on February 12. A purported suicide note recovered from his residence blamed BJP MP from Junagadh Rajesh Chudasama and his father Naran Chudasama for allegedly compelling Chag to take the extreme step.
Contending that Hitarth’s petition is not maintainable, the affidavit stated, “The initiation of the present contempt petition is nothing but a method devised by the petitioner to exert pressure on the ongoing preliminary inquiry and the same is interfering with the process of preliminary inquiry and hence, abuse of process of the machinery of law in the nature of contempt.”
It has been further submitted that the petition has been filed “only with a view to create unnecessary pressure” on the PI.
While the matter was listed for hearing Tuesday before the division bench of Justices AJ Shastri and JC Doshi, Hitarth’s counsels sought time to peruse the affidavit. The court then posted the matter for hearing on April 18.
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