Date:18/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/18/stories/2007031822630500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

How it helped a father

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Effective use of the Right to Information Act can help in unexpected ways, in this case proving a case of custodial death.

B.H. Veeresha of Mahiti Hakku Adhyana Kendra narrated the way the Act helped Sesha Babu in getting documents to prove that his son Srihari died in the custody of the Rajajinagar police. A complaint has been filed against four policemen before the 7th Additional City Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

Police took 19-year-old Srihari in a Hoysala patrol vehicle on January 7, 2007 at 10 p.m. and released him in an unconscious state after Sesha Babu allegedly paid a bribe of Rs. 3,000. Sesha Babu took his son to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, where he died on January 10. Mr. Veeresha helped the grieving father file an application to the city police seeking copies of preliminary investigation report, Hoysala van's logbook, station house diary and post-mortem report. There was no reply from the police for 10 days.

"This made us approach the Information Commission as the Act provides that any information related to death has to be given within 48 hours."

The commission registered Sesha Babu's complaint and issued summons to the city police. "This made the police come to the commission with the documents that were sought," he said.

A case was filed against sub-inspectors Harish Kumar and Venkatesh and constables Nagaraj and Ramanjaneya.