New Delhi

Court directive to Delhi police

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday issued a direction to the Delhi police to allow lawyers and families to meet the suspected militants arrested in connection with the recent serial blasts in the Capital.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice A. P. Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar passed the direction on a public intersection litigation by the People’s Union for Democratic Rights alleging violation of the rights of the accused now in the custody of the Special Cell of the Delhi police.

The petition was filed after the Delhi police did not allow former Union Law Minister and advocate Shanti Bhushan and advocate Prashant Bhushan to meet accused Zia-ur-Rehman, who was arrested by the South Delhi police in connection with the September 13 serial blasts.

The Court also issued a notice to the Delhi police asking them to reply to the contents of the petition within ten days and comply with all the Supreme Court guidelines on the rights of the accused.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who is representing Zia-ur-Rehman, said: “We had filed a petition essentially for contempt as the police seem to have violated all the directions of the Supreme Court regarding the manner in which arrests are to be made and the accused kept in custody. In particular, the police did not allow anybody in the family or any lawyer to meet the accused.”

The petition had also sought appointment of court commissioners to inspect all records and examine all those who have been arrested in connection with the blasts and present a report to the court.

“The petition contained detailed facts about the condition of two of the accused, Zia-ur-Rehman and Saqib Nissar. We did not know the facts about the other accused arrested in connection with the blasts but had sought general directions in respect to all as their condition was also likely to be similar,” said Mr. Bhushan.

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