Decision on narco test deferred

Vijayawada: The Fourth Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Tuesday deferred the decision on whether narco analysis test should be conducted on the seven suspects in the sensational Ayesha Meera’s murder case. 

The public prosecutor, counsel on behalf of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), argued that permission should be given for conducting the narco analysis test. 

On the other hand, the counsel on behalf of the accused opposed the test. After hearing the argument of the two sides, the court adjourned the hearing to June 15. As per the Supreme Court guidelines, narco analysis should be conducted with the written approval of the accused/suspect.

The case gained importance as the narco analysis test was not so far conducted in the State. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the Ayesha Meera’s murder case. She was murdered in a girls’ hostel at Ibrahimpatnam on December 12, 2007. 

Earlier, the police had arrested P Satyam Babu of Nandigama and he was sentenced to life imprisonment and was lodged at the Central Jail at Rajamahendravaram.

However, the High Court released Satyam Babu and appointed a Special Investigation Team to probe the case afresh. The parents of Ayesha Meera suspected the involvement of local youth in the murder case. The SIT has been trying to find out the real culprits.

The parents of Ayesha are insisting that Narco analysis test should be conducted on seven persons to find out the culprits. They include hostel warden Koneru Padma, her husband Siva Ramakrishna, two girl students living in the hostel Sowmya and Kavita and local youth Chinta Pawan, Abburi Ganesh and Koneru Satish, the grand son of former Minister Koneru Ranga Rao.

Senior advocate Pichuka Srinivasa Rao said that as per the Supreme Court guidelines, the court can give permission when the accused give consent for Narco test. The police tried to get information from these seven but in vain. Finally, they are asking permission from the court to conduct narco analysis tests. 

Hostel warden Koneru Padma and her husband expressed willingness to undergo the test. But, five others are opposing the narco test. The hearing in the case has been adjourned to June 15.