Undertrial prisoner seeks court nod to give interview for documentary

In his application to the court, Palande noted that he has been in custody for over 12 years without misusing jail provisions or engaging in any illicit activities and sought consent to be interviewed by an agency working on the documentary.

Palande is on trial for the alleged murders of Delhi-based businessman Arunkumar Tikku, producer Karan Kakkad, and an unidentified person whose remains were discovered during the investigation of the earlier cases.

An undertrial prisoner who is accused in three murder cases has requested permission from the sessions court to participate in an interview for a documentary about the cases. Arrested in 2012, the undertrial, Vijay Palande, has been in custody since then.

In his application to the court, Palande noted that he has been in custody for over 12 years without misusing jail provisions or engaging in any illicit activities and sought consent to be interviewed by an agency working on the documentary. Palande asserted that he wishes to exercise his constitutional right under Article 19(1)(a) — the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression.

Indicating that he does not object if the interview is used against him, Palande said that it will not prejudice the trial or cause delays, as it is expected to be completed in two days.

“The applicant further undertakes that there will be no violation of any jail or criminal manual, and that his rights and those of the prosecution will be strictly upheld,” the application states. The court has requested a response from the prosecution regarding this request.

In a separate development, a magistrate court acquitted Palande on Thursday in a case involving the possession of 12 cartridges. Palande had been charged under the Arms Act in 2012, but the court found him not guilty of these charges.

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