Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 13: The third additional chief metropolitan magistrate court here, on Monday March 12, permitted to subject K T Naveen Kumar alias Hotte Manja from Maddur, who has been arrested relating to the murder of veteran journalist, Gauri Lankesh, to narco analysis test.

Judge of the court, Venkanna Hosamani, who heard an application moved by Special Investigation Team (SIT) seeking to perform the said test on Naveen Kumar, placed the condition that the test should be conducted in the presence of the advocate for the accused and that the test should not have any adverse impact on the health condition of the accused. He also instructed the concerned to consult the officials of forensic laboratory, fix date for the same, and keep the court informed about it.

SIT officials who had obtained custody of Naveen produced him before the judge of the court on Monday and said that their interrogation is complete. The court then remanded Naveen to judicial custody till March 26.

In the records submitted by SIT officials to the court, names of only Naveen Kumar and Pradeep were revealed. But the officials are yet to provide information about Pradeep's identity and other details. This has given rise to some suspicions.

Naveen expressed his willingness to pose for Nacro Ananysis Test, insisting that he has done nothing wrong. He accused the officials of trying to fix him in this case. After he was convinced about the procedures involved in Narco Analysis, he said he is ready for the same if it helps in bringing out the truth, his advocate, Vedamurty, stated.

As per the Supreme Court directives, a person can be put through this test only if he expresses his willingness for the same. Subjecting people to this test without obtaining their concurrence is tantamount to violation of human rights and right to privacy. SIT officials are now expected to take up the matter with the forensic science laboratories of Gujarat and Hyderabad, where such a facility exists, and seek their permission for conducting this test on Naveen.