Bhanwari case: No narco-analysis test of accused, says court

In a setback to the Central Bureau of Investigation, a court on Tuesday turned down its plea for undertaking narco-analysis, brain mapping and polygraph tests on Shahabuddin, a key accused in the Bhanwari Devi disappearance case, despite the agency pleading that it was the "only ray of hope" to crack the case.

The CBI had moved an application in the court for conducting lie-detection and other tests on November 9, citing Shahabuddin's non cooperation in the investigation.

"The CBI has so far not been able to extract substantial information from him and this is the only ray of hope for it in order to extract some crucial information leading to cracking of the case," CBI counsel S S Yadav argued in the court.

Besides, the CBI also wanted to verify the information it has so far obtained from Shahabuddin during interrogation, Yadav said.

But the counsel for Shahabuddin objected to the CBI's request, citing a ruling of the Supreme Court, according to which the consent of the accused is requisite for these tests.

The court had on Monday heard the arguments from both sides and reserved its order.

The court today declined to give the permission for these tests on Shahabuddin.

Earlier, the court had also rejected the plea of the police for undertaking polygraph test on another suspect Sohan Lal Bishnoi, who is also in judicial custody.

Shahabuddin had surrendered on October 11 and after 15 days of interrogation by CBI, he was sent to judicial custody.

Bhanwari, 36, a nurse at the sub-centre in Jaliwada village, went missing on September 1.