Tripura court to hear jailed ex-minister’s plea on Nov 11 again

Agartala: The special court of West Tripura district will hear the next plea of tainted Tripura minister and one of the main accused in the Rs 600-crore PWD scam Badal Choudhury, who is on a 3-day judicial custody starting from Friday, on November 11.

Choudhury is already in jail as the crime branch of Tripura Police on Friday produced him in the special court 22 days after his arrest in the case.

Special judge Sabyasachi Datta Purukayastha after hearing the case sent Choudhury for three days of judicial custody until the next hearing on November 11.

Speaking with reporters, Arindam Bhattacharjee, counsel of Choudhury, said, the authorities of the GBP hospital had discharged him in afternoon but the police produced him after 3:30 in the evening.

“The court hours are till 4 pm but the hearing continued till late and after an argument between the two sides, the court sent Choudhury to judicial custody till November 11”, Bhattacharjee alleged.

We have already informed the court that if he is sent to police lock-up, then he might again fall ill and, therefore, he should be sent to judicial custody with the advice of his medical team. The interrogation can be done there as well. We have never stopped or disagreed in interrogating him. But if this is done in lock-up, then he would again fall ill, Bhattacharjee added.

An interim order was given by the court, later, sending him to judicial custody till November 11.

Purushottam Rot Barman, another counsel of the Choudhury said the court heard the two sides and he has been sent to three days of Judicial Custody.

The court has said that he should be treated as per his status and respect should be given to him by the jail authority.