Delhi HC appoints court commissioner on habeas corpus plea

The Delhi High Court Friday appointed a court commissioner and sought a report in a case filed by a senior journalist alleging that his late friend's daughter has been admitted to a rehabilitation centre by her sister despite being mentally sound.

S.P.K. Gupta, a former parliament correspondent, moved the high court filing a habeas corpus petition seeking directions to Hauz Khas police to present before court Nilima Warerkar, 59, who has been illegally admitted to psychiatric centre.

A division bench of Justice Ravindra Bhatt and Justice Vipin Sanghi asked the court commissioner, advocate Richa Kapoor, to file a status report on the issue.

Delhi Police also filed a status report in the court stating that the woman was discharged from hospital Sep 29, and submitted her medical records in the court.

The plea filed through advocate Sunil Agarwal asked the court to direct Hauz Khas police station officer to present Nilima warerkar before court from the detention of her sister Anjali and her brother Parag Warerkar.

Gupta claims Gulmohar Park resident Nilima - who is the daughter of his deceased friend M.R. Warerkar - had confided to him that her elder sister Anjali had got control over her by administering psychiatric drugs.

Gupta said a few months ago, Nilima started calling him when Anjali was not around and shared her plight.

"However, since Sep 17, he could not contact Nilima despite ringing up Nilima's home several times. The very next day, Anjali told Gupta that her sister had been sent to a rehabilitation centre, as she had been 'behaving oddly'," the plea said.

Gupta asked the court that Nilima be medically examined by an independent panel of relevant specialists with government hospitals.

The plea also asked that an FIR be registered against Anjali and Parag Warerkar for cheating, criminal intimidation and a detailed and prompt investigation be held into the offences.

-- Indo-Asian News Service

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