Police-Lawyer Spat: HC To Hear Deadline Extension Plea Of CB Probe Today

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Monday will hear the plea of the Crime Branch for extension of the deadline to submit the final chargesheet of its investigation into the police assault on a lawyer on August 28.

The High Court on October 30 had directed IG, Crime Branch, Arun Bothra to complete the investigation and submit the chargesheet by November 9. Sitting judge of the High Court Justice C R Das was to monitor the case being probed by the IG, Crime Branch, who is the Investigating Officer (IO). The IO was directed to apprise Justice Das of the status of the probe every day.

Appearing in person, Bothra had informed the court that it would take at least six weeks to complete the chargesheet of the investigation.

On the other hand, the Orissa High Court Bar Association at its general body meeting on November 9 had decided to continue the agitation till November 12. As informed by the Association president Srikant Nayak, the Association will take a decision at its general body meeting in the afternoon on November 12 after the High Court hears the case.

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To resolve the impasse, Director General of Police (DGP) R P Sharma had convened a meeting with the members of the High Court Bar Association on Sunday evening. Though the meeting remained inconclusive, there was some headway.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, the DGP said he has appealed to the lawyers to withdraw their agitation and join duty in the larger interest of the people. “We have reached an amicable and mutually respectable and acceptable solution and I hope it will be materialized soon,” he added.