From News Dispaches NEW DELHI: The President of the Unified Akali Dal (UAD) Simranjeet Singh Mann produced in the make shift court of acting Chief Metropolitan Magistrate J.M. Malik at the Tihar jail here on Saturday morning claimed that he was the victim of a “frame up.”

Amidst tight security Mannclad in a salwar kameez with a blue turban was brought to the courtroom along with three others accused of conspiring to murder the late prime minister Indira Gandhi and waging war against the nation Atinder Pal Singh, Jagmohan Singh and Dalip Singh. They were remanded to judicial custody until June 9 the next date for hearing.

Making an impassioned plea, in the presence of a large number of friends and relatives, S.S. Mann said that his continuing detention was a “ploy” on the part of the Government who he said was “enraged” after what he had written to it since early 1979.

He said that most of these letters to the Government criticizing its Policies were in his official capacity as an administrator and were. now being used as part of the charge sheet prepared by the SIT.

“When I wrote those letters cautioning the Government on some of its policies, 1 was merely acting as a Station Master, who tries to send urgent signals to two express trains running on one track and heading towards each other, said Mann.

“Inspite of four and a half years of torture in prisons, I have still not turned an extremist, the former IPS officers said. He alleged that during these years of imprisonment he was both physically and mentally humiliated. He complained that cigarettes were forced into his mouth his beard was plucked his jaw smashed and he was forced to share a cell with a mentally deranged man.

He urged the Magistrate to order a medical checkup of his teeth which he claimed were damaged.

Mann challenged the Congress (I) to oppose him in the general elections in any constituency in Bihar. He was interrupted by the prosecution who said that he should refrain from making political statements but he said that it is a political case and I am a political prisoner.”

Mann also requested the Magistrate that being a blood pressure patient he may be allowed to keep a watch and a radio. The Magistrate acceded to his demand for a watch,

Earlier the defence counsel, P.N. Lekhi pointed out that inspite of S.S. Mann’s written plea that his medical examination be conducted before he left Bhagalpur and after he reached Delhi and that during his journey his lawyer be allowed to escort him neither of the two requests were complied which Lekhi said that his client had made the requests apprehending that he may be finished off during his journey. On the pretext that he was trying to escape. He urged that Mann’s medical examination be conducted. The Magistrate ordered the Jail Superintendent to file a Medical report.

Outlining his defence Lekhi said that he seriously doubted whether a speedy trial would be given to the accused. He complained that the prosecution was adopting delaying tactics, This is all a mock exercise which this beleaguered Government is trying to undertake to carry to body of Indira Gandhi to the hustings,” he remarked.

He was particularly scathing in his remarks about the SIT, which he kept referring to as the “shame investigation team” and a bunch of superannuated policemen” and “dishonest men”.

He said that the SIT had violated all norm of entire procedure by government supplying the accused the case diaries along with the chargesheet. He said that while his client had been denied copies of the chargesheet, the SIT had made “calculated leaks” to the clients.

Demanding the case diaries, LeIchi said that it was not for the accused to apply to the court to enforce the legal provisions. It is the duty of the government to protect the rights of a accused and to see to it that these are not prejudiced, he added.

Lekhi said the prosecution provided illegible copies of the case to defence lawyers. He claimed that about 60 percent of the case papers handed over to them by the prosecute are vague.

The four accused also complained to the court that in spite of repeated requests that they were being denied access to the Indian Express newspaper.

S.S. Mann complained that when he asked for a copy of the Indian Express he was often given the statesman.

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 9, 1989