Will register FIR in Dr Chag suicide case: Gujarat govt tells HC

Public prosecutor Mitesh Amin’s assurance Tuesday came after the division bench of Justices AJ Shastri and JC Doshi asked if the state government intended to register an FIR or not in the case.

The plea, moved by Dr Chag’s son Hitarth Chag, submitted that the police violated the mandate provided in the Supreme Court judgement of Lalita Kumari versus Government of Uttar Pradesh and others, according to which, in case of cognisable offences, “the police has no option but to file an FIR”.

“A person may be holding a post—MP or MLA—but they’re not enjoying special status in the eyes of the law. The officers concerned have intentionally and deliberately not followed Lalita Kumari (judgement),” senior advocate Yogesh Lakhani submitted on behalf of the petitioner.

Veraval police inspector Sunil Ishrani, deputy superintendent of police at Veraval VR Khengar, superintendent of police at Gir Somnath Manoharsinh Jadeja and DIG Mayanksinh Chavda are the respondent parties in the petition.
Meanwhile, PI Ishrani, the investigating officer in the case, contended the maintainability of the petition during the hearing Tuesday. Lakhani submitted that he would research on the precedents laid by the court judgements on the maintainability of the petition and respond to Ishrani’s contentions. The matter will be taken up for further hearing Wednesday.

Dr Chag, who had a hospital in the Veraval town of Gir Somnath, was found hanging at his residence on February 12. In a purported note recovered from his residence, he had blamed Junagadh MP Chudasama and his father Naran Chudasama for allegedly compelling him to take the extreme step.