In a big blow for sextortion racket accused Archana Nag’s close associate-turned-foe Shradhanjali Behera, the Special Enforcement Directorate (ED) Court has asked the latter to appear before it in person.
The court has rejected her petition seeking permission to appear before it through her lawyer and directed her to depose before it on May 8.
Shradhanjali, who was elusive and repeatedly failed to appear in court, had sought the court’s permission to appear before it through her counsel apprehending her arrest, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate named her as an accused. “She has been asked to appear before the court on May 8,” said ED lawyer Gopal Agarwal.
Shradhanjali’s lawyer Ashok Das said, “When the special court had issued a notice to appear in person or through an advocate, I had furnished a representation under Section 205 citing that we will represent through counsel. That was rejected by the court. Thereafter, we challenged the decision in the High Court.”
“The High Court has asked the special court to rehear and reconsider the petition then. However, the court made a hearing on the matter on April 24 and reserved the verdict. Now, the plea has been rejected and the court has asked Shradhanjali to appear in person on May 8,” Das added.