Kanpur: The district and sessions judge on March 13 extended the judicial custody of three Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) detenues and independent Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Kunda Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, his father Udai Pratap Singh and Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Akshay Pratap Singh till April 9.

District judge Shailendra Saxena also ordered exemption of the presence of Udai Pratap Singh and Akshay Pratap Singh for next hearing due to their old age and illness.

The hearing of the three POTA detenues was held for the first time inside the district jail instead of district court.

The district judge had gone to district jail for hearing the case. This was the second remand of the three POTA detenues in Kanpur.

The court had permitted six lawyers five from Pratapgarh and one from Kanpur to be present at the time of hearing, while five government counsels were also allowed in the jail.

The judge has also ordered that the media persons could interview Raja Bhaiya after seeking permission from the court and the district jail superintendent, the defence counsel told reporters outside the district jail.

The media persons were kept away from the site of hearing inside the district jail.

The district authorities had made tight security arrangements in and outside the district jail. Heavy police posse, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) jawans were posted around the district jail and the road leading to district jail was closed much before the start of hearing.

After the hearing, Udai Pratap Singh was sent to Pratapgarh, while Akshay Pratap Singh was sent to Mirzapur district jails under heavy police protection. Raghuraj Pratap Singh would remain in Kanpur district jail.

PTI