Jyoti murder case: Accused sent to police custody

Kanpur, Aug 6: Woman friend of Piyush Shyam Dasani, the son of UP biscuit baron who allegedly masterminded his wife's murder, was on Wednesday remanded in police custody even as police said it was considering conducting narco and polygraph tests on the accused.

The court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate allowed police to question Dasani's woman friend, who had not been sent to police custody yesterday along with Dasani and four other accused -- driver Awadesh and three accomplices. "The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate has sent Piyush's woman friend to police custody from 1 PM to 7 PM .

The woman would be interrogated and her statements would be cross-examined with other accused," SSP K Emanuel said, adding the police had yesterday sought her custody along with the other accused so that they could be interrogated together. Dasani and others' custody ended today at 12 PM and they have been sent back to Kanpur jail.

The court had sent them to one-day police remand during which the cops questioned the accused and managed to recover the weapon and motorcycle used in the murder of Jyoti Dasani. The SSP said the police intends to conduct narco and polygraph test on the accused for which they will seek permission from the court.

"We are planning to conduct polygraph test on the accused and will seek permission from the court in this regard in a week's time. This will help in unfolding several other angles of this murder case," Emanuel said.

Dasani was arrested after he allegedly confessed to have got his wife killed with the help of his driver as he was having relations with another woman. Jyoti's body, bearing multiple stab wounds, was found inside Dasani's car on July 28 in Panki area of Kanpur.

Meanwhile, acting on media reports that Dasani and the accused woman were being given special provisions in jail, district and police officials conducted raids in their prison cells and seized various items including home-cooked food.

"The state government had issued orders to carry out the raids at their prison cells during which it was found that Piyush and the woman were being provided with home-cooked food and other special provisions," District Magistrate Roshan Jacob said. Media reports had alleged that the duo were given "special provisions" including food items, room fresheners, mosquito repellents, deodorants and western-style toilets.

Jail Superintendent P D Saloniya, who had yesterday denied the claims and said rules for all inmates were same, refused to comment on the raids.

A detailed report on the matter has been sent to the jail ADG and the state home ministry, the DM said, adding, the state government will accordingly initiate probe against the jail officials and take action against them.

PTI