Padmapriya case: Atul remanded to police custody

{image-atul Raosmall_24062008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Udupi, Jun 24: A local court today remanded Atul Rao, the main witness and now the prime accused in the sensational Padmapriya case to six-day police custody here. Atul, a close friend of Padmapriya's husband and Udupi BJP MLA K Raghupathy Bhat, was arrested yesterday and produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate. As sought by the police, the Magistrate remanded him to police custody.

Atul was arrested by the Manipal Police on charges of kidnap and instigating the suicide of the Legislator's wife, whose body was found hanging in a Delhi apartment on June 15 after she went missing from her house on June 11. Magistrate A M Ramachandraiah ordered that the accused should be produced before the court on or before June 30 and should be referred to a doctor in case he required any medical treatment and a report should be filed before the court.

Earlier, the accused was brought to the court from Manipal Police Station amid heavy police security.

Senior Assistant Public Prosecutor J V Naik, who produced the case dairy and other relevant documents in connection with the case, being probed by investigation Officer B G Achar, prayed the court for 15 days police custody. He submitted that detailed questioning needed to be done and the accused had to be taken to various spots such as Kumta, Goa and Delhi to collect material evidences and witnesses.

Stevan Victor Lewis, counsel for Atul, opposing the police remand application, contended that considering the health condition of the accused, the court should not grant 15 days' police custody.

After hearing the arguments from both sides, the Magistrate ordered for six days' police custody.

UNI