I was tortured: Bhardwaj

‘‘I want to be sent to CBI custody. My lordship, please sentence me to CBI remand,’’ was Bhardwaj’s startling entreaty to Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) C.L. Mohal as he insisted on arguing his case himself. ‘‘ This has been the worst period of my life. I want to see the last of it by remaining in CBI custody for as long as they want. They tortured me last night and I will not be cowed down by the physical or mental torture they have in store for me,’’ Bhardwaj said before bursting into tears.

Lawyers in the courtroom also urged Bhardwaj to refrain from losing his cool. Trouble broke out when CBI DSP R.Upasak objected to an advocate’s remarks. The lawyers, in turn, accused the DSP of contempt of court, and urged the CJM to turn him out for not being in uniform.

In proceedings lasting for nearly two hours, the CJM directed the bureau to allow Bhardwaj’s counsel to be present during the interrogation, besides ordering his medical examination after every 48 hours. Bhardwaj was also given permission to meet his relatives in isolation in the morning and evening for half-an-hour and an hour respectively.

Asking for a 10-day remand, CBI’s counsel contended that the bureau required Bhardwaj’s custody to recover the mobile phone being used by him. The accused, the counsel said, had been changing SIM cards during this period. CBI counsel further argued the bureau needed to search the bank lockers of the accused in Ferozpur, besides recovering other incriminating documents highlighting his nexus with suspended district and sessions judge R.M. Gupta.

Bhardwaj’s counsel, however, contended that he had already surrendered his mobile to the CBI yesterday, and the bank locker in Ferozpur could be searched even without his custody. The counsel said the CBI had nothing to gain from Bhardwaj’s interrogation, and hence he should not be in CBI remand.

Bhardwaj was remanded to CBI custody till June 14. The CJM has asked the agency to produce Bhardwaj before his court on June 14 during the court hours.