Dr. Binayak Sen's judicial remand extended till 5th June

PEOPLE'S UNION FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES – CHHATTISGARH
Post Box No. 87, Main Post Office, Raipur – 492001: Chhattisgarh: India
E-mail: pucl.cg@gmail.com

UPDATE On Dr. Binayak Sen's Illegal Detention

Raipur, 22nd May, 2007: 18:00 hrs

The CPU seized during Search to be Examined in the Presence of Experts and Dr. Sen's Lawyers – Orders the Court

Dr. Binayak Sen was produced today in the court of the Additional CJM at Raipur along with the co-accused, Mr. Pyush Guha. Dr. Sen was sent on judicial remand to Raipur Central Jail until 5th June, 2007.

The police had applied for permission from the Court to examine the CPU of his Computer by an expert, which was seized during the search on 19th June. Dr. Sen's lawyers had moved an application yesterday that the CPU be examined in the presence of two independent witnesses with knowledge of computers. During the hearing today, the State opposed the application on the grounds that there was no such provision in the CrPC, and that both the parties, the police and the accused, would not be present during the examination of the CPU by an expert to be appointed by the government. However, after hearing both the parties, the Honourable Court passed an order that the CPU would be examined by the government expert in the presence of the District Head of the National Informatics Centre, and a lawyer suggested by the accused with knowledge of computers. Advocate Saurabh Dangi's name was suggested by the lawyers of Dr. Sen, who practices at Chhattisgarh High Court at Bilaspur.

Dr. Binayak Sen informed the concerned court that the police escorts tried to handcuff him at the jail gate, which he protested. The court has finally ordered that he should not be brought in handcuffs from the Raipur Jail and back until it was really necessary to do so.

During the day's proceedings, PUCL members, social activists, friends, family, students and other citizens were present to express solidarity with Dr. Binayak Sen.

The Bail application for Dr. Binayak Sen was moved by his lawyers today. The hearing on the Bail application would be held in the Sessions Court at Raipur on 24th May, 2007. During this hearing, prominent lawyers from Delhi, Calcutta are likely to be present.

· Prominent Journalists and Social Activists Meet The Governor of Chhattisgarh Demanding Dr. Binayak Sen's Unconditional Release

A delegation from Delhi representing various organizations met the governor of Chhattisgarh, Mr. E.S.L. Narsimhan, demanding the unconditional release of Dr. Binayak Sen and erasing anti-democratic laws like the Chhattisgarh Special Security Act, 2005. The delegation consisted of Prabhash Joshi, Senior Journalist, Ajit Battarcharjee, Former Editor of TOI, HT, Indian Express, Harsh Mandar, former IAS officer, Dr. B.D. Sharma, former IAS officer, Kavita Srivastav, National PUCL Secretary, Arun Khote, National Convener of National Commission of Dalit Human Rights. The response of the Governor was very formal, and he asked the delegation to knock the doors of the courts.

The delegation could not meet the Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh, although given an appointment at 1 pm, given the sudden and tragic death of O.P. Rathore, the Director General of Police, Chhattisgarh, who died of a massive heart attack while delivering a lecture on anti-terrorism. However, the memorandum signed by the delegation was submitted to the representative of the CM, who promised to look into the demands.

* Protest Demonstration on 24th May In District Headquarters in Chhattisgarh

Under the banner of PUCL-Chhattisgarh, a one day protest has been organized on 24th May at the district headquarters. A signature campaign will be launched on that day demanding the scrapping of the Chhattisgarh Special Security Act, 2005, and the unconditional release of Dr. Binayak Sen. The memorandum with signatures will be submitted to the governor and chief minister of Chhattisgarh on 31st May, 2007, the day an all India protest is being organized in Raipur. Prominent citizens and members of various human rights and people's organizations from all over the country will participate in the protest on the 31st May.

* Protest meeting in Delhi on 26th May, 2007

On the afternoon of 26th May, 2007, a protest meeting has been organized at Gandhi Peace Foundation in New Delhi to review the situation arising out of Dr. Binayak Sen's illegal detention under the black laws, and chalk out future strategy and agenda for action. A National Committee for the Defence of Dr. Binayak Sen will be constituted at this meeting, bringing together prominent lawyers, doctors, literary figures, journalists, social workers, trade union leaders, students, etc.