Padmapriya suicide case witness Atul remanded to police custody

Udupi, Jun 24 (UNI) Atul Rao, the main witness and now the main accused in the sensational Padmapriya suicide case, was today remanded police custody by a court here today.

The arrested, a close friend of Padmapriya's husband and Udupi BJP MLA Raghupathy Bhat, who was arrested yesterday was produced before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate today. As sought by the police, the Magistrate remanded him to six-day's of police custody.

Atul was arrested by the Manipal police on charges of kidnap and instigating suicide of the legislators 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 Atul should be referred to doctor in case he required any medical treatment and a report filed before the court.

Earlier the accused was brought to the court from Manipal police station with 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 said detailed questioning needed to be done in the wake of the accused had to be taken to various spots such as Kumta, Goa and Delhi to collect material evidences and witness.

Lawyer Stevan Victor Lewis, counsel for Atul, opposed the police remand application arguing 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 Judge ordered for six days police custody.

UNI MA MSP SKB1503