Anand Kusruthsingh, a policy unit adviser from 1996 to 2000, was arrested and charged last Tuesday with ?giving instruction to commit a crime, to wit: serious assault.? The police, who first objected to his release, arguing that the enquiry was not completed, changed their minds the next day and he was bailed out after paying Rs 10 000 and a debt recognizance of Rs 20 000. He will next appear in court on 31st March 2005.

The former PM adviser was arrested following allegations made by Antoine Chetty, notary Vinay Deelchand?s ex-driver cum bodyguard. The latter declared to the police that Anand Kusruthsingh allegedly gave instructions to Yen Mario Vythilingum and himself in September 1997 to assault Pravin Buckory and disfigure him. This plot was supposedly planned in the notary?s office for a reward of Rs 80 000. Chetty then described how he drove the motorcycle with Vythilingum on the back and how the latter lacerated Pravin Buckory?s left cheek with a cutter. The purpose was to put an end to the relationship between the latter and Anand Kusruthsingh?s niece.

Both Chetty and Vythilingum incriminated Anand Kusruthsingh in their statements and formally identified him in a confrontation at the Central prison. The police still have three other allegations to study. The former adviser, Chetty said, allegedly gave him gandia seeds to be hidden in Pravin Buckory?s car. He allegedly asked him to go to Buckory?s father?s shop and use a public telephone to hurl threats against him. This manoeuvre allowed Anand Kusruthsingh to lodge a complaint against Pravin Buckory. Moreover, Chetty declared that Kusruthsingh had himself voluntarily hurt by Yen Mario Vythilingum to incriminate his niece?s fiancé. The police are now waiting for Vythilingum?s confirmations of these allegations. In the meantime, Anand Kusrutsing, now a CWA engineer, has been suspended pending the end of police case. If cleared, he should recover all his rights.