Scribe murder case: Accused alleges torture in jail

NEW DELHI - One of the four accused in the murder of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan has alleged that he was beaten up inside the Rohini jail as he refused to bribe the prison authorities.

Amit Shukla approached a court June 25, alleging that he was beaten up for several days.

“An application has been moved before additional sessions judge S.K. Sarvaria. It was forwarded to the chief metropolitan magistrate for disposal,” defence counsel Amit Kumar told IANS.

“Shukla alleged that he was assaulted by the jail authorities at Rohini as he refused to bribe them. He told the judge that police officials take money and avail facilities like mobile phones and distribute dry fruits inside the jail premises,” he added.

The chief metropolitan magistrate has called for the jail authorities’ comments July 6.

“Shukla was beaten up June 22 and the court ordered for a medical check-up June 25. Till now, he has not been taken for medical treatment,” Amit Kumar said.

“I think there is a deliberate delay by the police to save their skin. It’s over 10 days now when he was assaulted. It will be very difficult now to prove that he was beaten,” he said.

He said there were two options for Shukla. The first is to file a writ petition in the Delhi High Court requesting to take disciplinary action against the whole staff of Rohini jail.

“Or else a contempt of court case can be filed against the police as they disrespected a judicial order by not taking the accused to the hospital for a medical test. But its upto my client to choose,” Amit Kumar said.

Soumya Vishwanathan, 25, was found dead in her car in Vasant Kunj area of south Delhi around 3.30 a.m. Sep 30, 2008. She was murdered while returning from work to her home in Sector-C of Vasant Kunj.