Court defers narco test hearing to January 10

DEHRADUN: The Kotdwar local court of Pauri Garhwal district on Thursday deferred the next hearing date of the application of narco test on all three accused in the Ankita Bhandari case to January 10.
The development came after the prosecution side sought time from the court to file some previous rulings by the Supreme Court and high courts in which they have granted permission for narco tests to the investigative agencies without the consent of the accused.
Advocate Ajay Pant, counsel to Ankita's father Virendra Bhandari, while speaking to TOI on Thursday's development said, "The local court was to pronounce its order on whether to grant permission to the police for the narco test on the three accused or not. But it didn't, as the prosecution sought time to file the aforementioned rulings to push its arguments."
Pant, who is with the prosecution side, said they too will file similar rulings as the defendant side had earlier sought more clarifications from the special investigation team for demanding a narco test.
The SIT had moved the plea before the court for the narco test of the accused including resort owner Pulkit Arya on December 9.