Odisha court rejects CB plea, sends Sabyasachi to judicial custody

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Nayagarh, Aug 8:

The SDJM court here sent Odisha’s top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda to judicial custody after Crime Branch police produced him here after the nine-day remand allowed by the court ended today.

While the Crime Branch lawyer pleaded for taking Sabyasachi on further remand for interrogation in three cases connected with his alleged attacks on Nayagarh police armoury, the Maoist leader’s lawyer Amiya Patnaik contended that his client was unwell and prayed that the court should not allow the Crime Branch to take him on further remand.

Patnaik told newsmen waiting outside the SDJM court premises that the court had acceded to his client’s prayer and had sent him to judicial custody. He said Sabyasachi had been sent to the Nayagarh jail from where he would be shifted to Brahmapur jail.

The Maoist leader’s wife Mili Panda, who was present in the court premises, told reporters that she had complete faith in the judiciary and had high hopes. She said her husband was unwell, which could be seen n his face while he was produced in the court.

She complained that he was not provided with proper treatment for his illness during the period of his interrogation at the Crime Branch police headquarters. She said her husband needed treatment to which the court had agreed.

A huge crowd waited outside the SDJM court premises here to have a look of the top Maoist, who is a son of the soil. Sabyasachi had arrived here amid tight police security.