CHENNAI/TIRUNELVELI: In a new twist to the Swathi murder case, lawyer G Krishnamurthy, whose bail plea on behalf of the lone accused P Ramkumar, 24, created a major controversy, has withdrawn from the case while another advocate who met the accused in Puzhal prison demanded that the suspect be given psychiatric treatment. The new advocate, Mr Ramraj, who has been appointed by Ramkumar’s father Paramasivam to defend his son, said he has no plans of moving a bail application immediately.” This being a murder case, though my client is innocent, we should give time for the police to proceed with their preliminary enquiry,” advocate Ramraj said, alleging that it was the police who asked lawyer Krishnamurthy, who filed bail petition on behalf of Ramkumar before the Principal Sessions court three days ago, to do so.

Ramraj, a former district judge and now practicing as an advocate, accused the prison officials of not allowing him to speak to the accused in private. “Several prison officials were present when I met Ramkumar in the prison. He appeared mentally depressed and should be provided psychiatric treatment,” Ramraj told reporters on Thursday. “Based on a request from Ramkumar’s father, a group of advocates from Progressive Advocates Association attempted to meet him in the prison. After initial hesitation, the prison authorities permitted only me to meet him,” he said.

As police surrounded Ramkumar, he was unable to speak freely. “Before commencement of trial, Ramkumar should undergo proper psychiatric treatment,” the advocate said. Advocate G. Krishnamurthy, has decided withdraw from the plea. Speaking to reporters, he said after filing bail petition for Ramkumar, he received “several unwanted messages.” His junior Mahendran, counsel on bail the petition, was unable to sleep in his residence and he faced pressure, he said.

“Under these circumstances we are not ready to meet Ramkumar to seek his permission to file the bail plea. Though the petition is legally sustainable, unnecessary controversies cropped over legal procedure on filing the petition. Hence, we have decided to desist from the proceedings,” he said. When the bail petition came up for hearing on Wednesday, before the principal session court judge Dr G Jayachandran, city public prosecutor, M.L. Jegan said Krishnamurthy had no locus standi to file the plea since he had not obtained Ramkumar’s consent. Following this, the judge, Jayachandran directed Krishnamurthy to file reply to the points raised by the CPP and adjourned the matter to July 15.