Hyderabad: Taking a serious view of an advocate being subjected to a breathalyser test and allegedly harassing him when he visited the Panjagutta police station to inquire about the status of his complaint, the Telangana high court remarked such an act “is unknown to law”.Hearing a petition filed by advocate Singapogu Subba Rao, Justice EV Venugopal asked under what authority did SHO Panjagutta conduct a breath test on a person visiting the police station, and for what reasons (as alleged by the cops) did the disturbance erupt.“The videograph (of the alleged incident) placed before the court demonstrates the petitioner being put to a test, which is unknown to law and requires detailed examination,” said the judge, while directing the police to file a counter in the matter. The judge also directed the police to preserve footage of all CCTV cameras at the police station from 11am to 5pm for April 13, when the alleged incident took place.Senior counsel V Raghunath, appearing for the petitioner, said SHO Rama Krishna and his team surrounded Subba Rao, abused him, ill-treated him and later subjected him to the test. “He was treated like a dacoit or some hardcore criminal just for asking the status of the investigation,” said Raghunath.Raghunath said that Subba Rao recorded 27 mg dl in the test, which is permissible by law even for driving a vehicle, and submitted to the court the video clip of the incident.Denying the claims, govt pleader for Home Mahesh Raje said Subba Rao’s behaviour with the cops was rude and not in a cordial manner, and hence the test had to be conducted. “With the permission of the magistrate, a case was registered on his complaint. Later a case was also registered on a complaint from one Mangli (a singer) after permission from the magistrate,” said Mahesh Raje and urged for time to file a counter.The judge directed SHO Panjagutta and other police officials not to interfere in the life and liberty of the petitioner.
