Court orders cops to conduct mental ability test of accused

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30

Additional Sessions Judge Jaibir Singh has ordered the police to conduct a mental calibre test of a woman accused, Preeti Jakhar, and her accomplice Athrva Chaudhary, who were arrested while allegedly trying to forcibly enter the government house of the Haryana Chief Secretary in Sector 7, Chandigarh, on June 1. The court issued the order after the woman and her accomplice showed “unusual behaviour” before the court.

According to the prosecution, the woman and her accomplice tried to forcefully enter the house. The FIR was registered on a complaint of a policeman deputed at the residence for the offences committed under Section 379 A, 353, 452 and 34 of the IPC.

The security personnel, who had brought the accused to the court, disclosed that they could be produced before the court with much difficulty. Even after much persuasion, the accused, Preeti Jakhar, became ready to wear a mask. Thereafter, she did not wear the mask properly in the court, rather she was putting a cloth in front of her mouth only and the requests of the court to her to wear the mask properly did not bear any fruit.

The court in the order says when both women were intimated that they could be provided the help of a legal aid lawyer in case they did not want to engage any private lawyer or were not in a position to engage a private lawyer, Preeti Jakhar said agitatingly to the court that her matter might be sent to the CBI for investigation and the case was nothing.

When she was apprised of the charges against her, she started questioning the court that how a Haryana police constable could lodge the complaint with Chandigarh police against her and said she would go to the house of Vijay Vardhan repeatedly as a wife couldn’t be stopped from entering the house of her husband.

“After observing the conduct of both accused, this court is of the considered opinion that prior to passing any further order in this case, let both accused persons be examined medically to adjudge their mental capability because they were talking in a manner in which a prudent person cannot and should not talk, said the court. Accordingly, the state, through its Public Prosecutor Hukam Singh, is directed to make arrangements throughJail Superintendent of Modal Jail, Burail, so that both accused can be examined by some government medical experts to adjudge the mental calibre of both accused,” says the order .