Nooriya stays in hospital,prosecution asks why

Haveliwala,charged with culpable homicide,has been admitted to a special room in the gynecology ward rather than the prisoners’ ward. Four policewomen are on guard round the clock. “She is capable of doing things on her own. Her parents come every night to meet her,” said a hospital staff member.

“According to her reports she has been diagnosed with a pelvic inflammatory disease. It takes more than a week for the inflammation to subside,” said Dr T P Lahane,dean of the JJ Group of Hospitals.

Haveliwala was admitted the day after the police booked her under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. When the police moved the court seeking her custody under the Act,it was turned down on medical grounds.

Her lawyers are arguing a technical aspect of her arrest. “We have provided a list of nearly 15 citations from the Supreme Court touching upon various mistakes that the police made while arresting her. Her arrest was done after sunset and before sun rise,without a lady constable to escort her to the police station. Also,the prosecution’s attempt at gaining custody under the NDPS Act can be argued as she was not found in possession of any drug. Only consumption of drug is a bailable offence,” said defence lawyer Renuka Laxmeshwar.