Former police commissioner Raj Dayal is expected to be questioned today by the investigating team into what has been called the notary connection. The name of the forceful former police chief turned politician was mentioned a couple of weeks ago by the notary?s driver Antoine Chetty in the course of his revelations to the Anti-drug & Smuggling Unit (ADSU).

There has been a lot of confusion concerning the alleged involvement of Raj Dayal in the Deelchand affair as the police would not, for a long time, confirm whether his name had been mentioned or not by Chetty. So much so, that the Prime minister was even questioned on the matter in Parliament last Tuesday. Paul Bérenger?s reply served to further confuse matters, as he said that no police officer in office had so far been alleged to be involved.

More surprises in store?

Chetty?s lawyers, Rama Valayden and Samad Goolamally, have however been insisting that Dayal?s name had been mentioned by Chetty and they protested against the reluctance of the police to question Dayal on these allegations. Chetty even stopped his collaboration with the police for a day in protest against the perception that his allegations against Dayal were not being taken seriously.

Informal police sources then became more open with the lawyers and the press in an attempt to dispel all confusion and any impression of cover-up. It was said that the investigators were waiting for witnesses to come forward to corroborate Chetty?s allegations. Apparently before any of the people incriminated by Chetty were called for questioning, witnesses had come forward in each case to confirm Chetty?s allegations. In this case, ADSU superintendent Vinod Appadu had ?come forward with a statement that had brought the inquiry further.?

Raj Dayal is reported as having said that he had a few ?surprises in store? for those who had involved him in this affair. He has also refused to comment on the allegations against him because it was a matter of ?state secret?.

State secret or not, Chetty is alleging that a meeting took place at the SMF quarters in 1995 between the then police commissioner, notary Deelchand, Chetty himself and Deelchand?s partner Mooraghen. At that meeting, it was decided to set up a certain Nundlall by hiding heroin on his premises and reporting this to the police. This was done and Nundlall?s house was searched on two occasions in vain. Superintendent Appadoo was apparently called to the meeting and instructed to take charge of the house search.

Notary Deelchand has so far denied that such a meeting took place. He has also denied ?knowing Dayal well? and said that he has met the latter on only one occasion on a purely professional basis. Just how ?professional? we don?t know yet.