‘Court can’t give more time to file charges’

Mumbai: Lawyers of the accused in the Dr Narendra Dabholkar murder case have opposed the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) application, seeking a 90-day extension to file a chargesheet against the accused saying that the court, which is hearing the matter, does not have the jurisdiction to do so. They have also claimed that the application seeking extension to file a chargesheet has been made with mala fide intention as the CBI does not have enough evidence to file a chargesheet against the accused.

Dharmraj Chandel,  the defence lawyer, said, “This is a judicial magistrate first class court and does not have the jurisdiction to allow extension as section 15 of terror charges of the UAPA has been invoked and besides, this is a murder case. Only a sessions court can allow extension.”

“Even if the court has the jurisdiction to allow extension, the CBI should have given specific points as to why it wants extension. The CBI hasn’t given what particular investigation it wants to do. The CBI needs to give reasons why custody of the accused is important for that particular investigation.”