IHBAS called upon to give report on Sharad Pawar's attacker

A Delhi court has summoned the Medical Superintendent of Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) for apprising it about the mental health of Harvinder Singh who had slapped Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar at a function here.

Metropolitan Magistrate Jasjeet Kaur, hearing the bail plea of Singh, asked the Medical Superintendent (MS) to submit tomorrow the health report of the accused who is admitted to the Institute for examination of his mental condition.

The court asked the MS to either submit the report personally or through a representative.

The summons against the Medical Superintendent were issued by the court after IBHAS failed to submit the report on Singh's mental condition on December 12.

The court had on December 9 extended Singh's judicial custody by 14 days till December 23.

Singh, was ordered to remain in the IHBAS till December 12 for examination of his mental condition, which was extended for 10 days.

Singh was admitted at IHBAS for tests on December 2 as per the court's directive and the magistrate had asked the Medical Superintendent of the Institute to authorise a doctor to personally produce his reports.

Seeking bail, the counsel for Singh had said the accused was undergoing psychiatric treatment for the last four years and as per a Supreme Court order and a mentally challenged person cannot be held guilty even for murder.

Singh, a small-time transporter, had assaulted Pawar on November 24 outside an auditorium on Parliament Street, saying it was a protest against price rise and corruption. Private security guards overpowered Singh after the incident.