The petition filed by popular actress Charmee Kaur in the Hyderabad high court challenging the method of questioning by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Telangana excise and prohibition enforcement department for her alleged links with drug peddlers has surprised everybody.
At a time when all the other film personalities including Puri Jagannath, Tarun and Navdeep are cooperating with the SIT authorities, Charmee wanted that the questioning be done in the presence of women officials and that she be exempt from undergoing medical examination.
She argued that under Article 20(3) of the Constitution of India, the authorities cannot compel her to subject to both physical and psychological examinations, such as collection of blood, hair and nail samples by way of coercion.
While she is justified in asking for questioning by women officials and seeking the presence he lawyers during the questioning, one wonders why Charmee was reluctant to give her blood, hair and nail samples for testing.
It only confirms the speculations in the media that she is one of the consumers of narcotics. Otherwise, she should not have any objections.
SIT director Akun Sabharwal told media that there was no coercion in obtaining blood, nail and hair samples and so far, they had taken the samples from actors only with their consent.
“If any actor is not willing to part with the samples, we will simply record the objection in the case diary and produce the same in the court. And we shall act according to the court directions,” he said.
He also pointed out that there would be women officers while interrogating women actors. As such, there was no point in Charmee’s demand!