Charmee gets partial relief from HC

​Hyderabad: Film actress Charmee Kaur got partial relief from the High Court at Hyderabad on Tuesday in the form of several safeguards while being questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to investigate into the drugs scandal that has rocked Telugu film industry.

The Court directed the investigating authorities to not collect hair, blood and nail samples of Charmee without her consent. Justice A Rajasekhar Reddy gave this direction while hearing the petition moved by the actress seeking a direction to the Telangana Excise Enforcement Department to not compel her for giving testimony to the SIT and to not collect hair, blood and nail samples of her without her consent.

The judge also directed that she must be examined only between 10 am and 5 pm and if there is still necessity of further examination, she must be called the next day. It was also made clear that women officers must be present during her examination. The judge rejected her request for the presence of an advocate during the questioning saying it was not needed as she was not shown as an accused by the authorities.

The counsel for the petitioner said that a woman cannot be treated in this manner and cited the Supreme Court guidelines. The special government pleader refuted the submissions saying that the authorities were following the guidelines scrupulously and the questioning is being videographed.

After hearing both sides, the judge gave the directions. Meanwhile, Excise Commissioner Chandravadan and Director Akun Sabharwal said cine actress Charmee has unnecessarily moved the High Court in the drugs case.

Interacting with media persons at Secretariat, they said the actress has indirectly accepted that she was involved in the drug case by moving the court. They said Charmee will attend the investigation on Wednesday and will be questioned by women officers.