Prosecution granted week's time to produce absconding person

Bangalore, Feb 21 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today granted a week's time to the State prosecution to produce one Dhanashekharan, allegedly kidnapped for ransom, before the court.

Mr Justice R Gururajan and Mr Justice Anand Byrareddy gave the direction on a Habeas Corpus writ petition, filed by Dhanashekharan's wife Jayasheela of Bagalur here.

The petitioner submitted that her husband had been running Kaya Christian Hospital and was the General Secretary of Indian Peace Charitable Trust. He did not return home on July 29, 2006, and after inquiry, she lodged a police complaint. Later, she came to know that he had been kidnapped by Tenjith Sabastine, a staff nurse in their hospital, and her associates for ransom, she contended.

Responding to a notice on the petition, Devanahalli circle Inspector of Police Venugopal filed an affidavit about the status of investigation. He said thorough investigations revealed that Dhanashekharan had taken up a job at Aryan Hospital, Gurgaon, with the name Sunil Shekhar. However, he had left for his native place on January 26, 2007, and was now living in Patna. The police officer sought permission for further investigation.

The court observed that further delay in producing Dhanashekharan would enable him to avoid investigation by moving from one place to another.

UNI