ST bus driver not mentally ill: Report

Mane was produced before the court at 5.05pm. The judge asked him his full name,age,profession,tenure of profession,ST depot where he worked,residence in Pune,native place and from where he was brought to the court. Mane told the court his full name,that he was 40 years old,was a driver with the state transport department where he was working for the past 15 years,was posted at Swargate bus depot,was basically from Solapur,presently saying at Hadapsar and that he was brought to the court from Yerawada mental hospital. “He answered satisfactorily,” the judge stated in the order.

When the judge asked if he had anything to say in his defence,he initially kept quiet. The judge then told him not to be afraid. Mane replied in Marathi,“He majhya haatun ghadle nahi (I did not do this).” None of Mane’s relatives was present before the court.

Mane’s observation time with the Yerawada mental hospital ended on Monday,after which ACP crime branch Rajendrasinh Mohite brought him to court. The police sought Mane’s magisterial custody,which was granted by the court till February 18.

Despite bar association opposition,lawyer represents Mane in court

Despite opposition from the Pune Bar Association (PBA),advocate Mahesh K Agarwal submitted his vakalatnama for Mane before the court on Monday. When the judge asked Mane if he needed a lawyer,he said yes,but he had no lawyer to represent him. The judge asked the police and assistant public prosecutor A K Pacharne to assist Mane. Meanwhile,advocate Agarwal spoke to Mane for a couple of minutes and submitted his vakalatnama to the court.