Custody of 3 accused in Shehla murder case extended

The special Central Bureau of Investigation court in Indore on Monday extended the judicial custody of three accused in RTI activist Shehla Masood murder case, including interior designer Zahida Pervez, till April 3.

The court extended the judicial custody of Pervez, Saba Farooqui, and Shaikb "Danger" for another nine days.

The court also extended the police custody of Tabish Khan, an alleged shooter, till March 30, after he and other three were produced before Judicial Magistrate Dr Shubhra Singh in Indore.

Fifth accused, alleged contract killer Irfan, is also in judicial custody till April 3.

After hearing the grievances of Parvez and Farooqui about jail arrangements, the judge sought a reply from the authorities, said senior public prosecutor, Hemant Shukla.

Shukla also said that court allowed CBI to take voice samples of Pervez and Farooqui within in ten days. Both had refused to give sample.

When asked if Tabish would undergo a polygraph test, the prosecutor said that Tabish had refused to undergo it.

Defence lawyer Nafisa Khan told reporters that Pervez and Farooqui complained about ill-treatment and poor facilities in the jail, and the court sought an explanation by March 28.

"Saba is suffering from asthma and Zahida from a spleen-related diseases, hence they have asked for separate cell with better facilities," Khan said.

The two women accused also told the court on Monday about alleged ill-treatment by jail employees, non-availability of place to offer namaz, poor living conditions, etc.

Zahida allegedly had intimate relations with BJP MLA Dhruv Narayan Singh, and had got masood  killed out of jealousy as the RTI activist too was close to the politician, according to the investigation so far.